The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-16
British Advance Near ROye
and Between Albert
and Arras.
FRENCH FORGE AHEAD
Haig Reports 3O,34t Pris-
Oners Taken by Two
Allied Armies.
FOCH TO STRIKE AGAIN
Gen. Humbert Making Prog
rcss in Effort to Outflank
Enemy Bases.


ing between the Somme and the Oise
simmered down to artillery duels and
local operations the allied capitals
chiefly are concerned with specula-
ton as to where Marshal Foch will
build the floor for the next Hinden.
Durg dance. And IL the Allies are
looking forward to this event with
thrilled expectancy the Central EN-
pires, unless all signs are misleading,
are anticipating 1t with dread.
AS to the battle front, the British
moved forward In two places to-day.
northwest Of Roye. where they moved
into the villages Of Damery and Par
villers, in spite of German opposition,
and north of the SOmme. between
Albert and Arras. where the enemy
fell back, apparently on his own &C.
cord. Further south the French cap.
tured positions on both sides of Las
signy as a prelude to what is ex-
pected to be the taking Of that town.
Enemy Near Arms Uneasy.
North Of the Somme, in the Arras
region, the Germans were pushed out
| OF some towns and voluntarily re.
moved themselves from others. Beau
mont-Hamel. Serre. Bucquoy and
PuisieuX- Mont are now in British
| hands, At some points the Germans
| fe!l back across the Ancre River. with
1 1, rD-i.;
| interest attaches to the enemy move
! ments on this front, great activity
| having been noted on the German
side Of the lines for several days. The
| enemy expected an attack here, and
prepared for it; knowledge Of which
may have led Marshal Foch to change
his plans, If he had any, regarding a
| thrust there.
The Germans, by retreating, vir-
tually wiped out what has long been
known as the Hebuterne salient, and
now they will be compelled to estab-
lish whole new line between the
Somme and Arras. The fact tha,
Gen. Won Boehn, known as the Ger
man retreat specialist" has been
placed in command on the Somme
front indicates an intention on the
part OF the enemy to move back over
a wide area.
The German suns, while showing a
great deal Of activity at several points.
seem to be Airing from long distances
many OF the shells dropping so far short
as TO 'endanger the German front
trenches. The guns have been very ac-
: tive In the Albert neighborhood, but
they are not doing much damage, all
| the British advanced posts having been
! Withdrawn and even the batteries moved
back a short distance.
! n small attack on Fouquescourt
speedily was broken up by the British.
Iiumbert Biding His Time.
Gen. Humbert is taking his time
around Lassingy. probably wishing TO
let the factor of time accomplish for him
/ what he otherwise could gain only BY
the expenditure of lives. lie is working
his way into the German machine gun
positions along the OIse Valley by In
filtration rather than by attempting to
| clear them out by storm. Meanwhile he
is repairing the roads back of his pres
ent line preparatory to moving up his
heavy guns. With these in position he
can drive the Germans out OF the terri
| tory west and south OF Noyon with the
| loss OF few men and al the same time In
| hict heavy losses on the enemy.
| Allied airplanes are reported busie-
! than at any time since the war started.
and they are making all the German
| communications - veritable Inferno.
Tons of bombs are dropped nightly
on the German concentration centres by
allied bombing machines. while the
| French and British combat planes.
swarming in the skies like bees, etfec-
tually prevent the enemy from ascer-
| tanning what is going on back OF their
| lines.
$4,000 Men. G7O Guns Taken.
l. The Job OF counting the prisoners
taken in the Picardy battle has been
completed. and the bag totals $4,000.
! with go guns This is exclusive OF
vast stores Of war materials.
Now that the heavy fighting on this
front is over the French and British are
! congratulatin9 themselves on tho grea:
work accomplished By their tanks, while
at least one OF the many G.rman OF.
fcers captured is at a complete loss 10
understand how 1t happened that the
"infallible' German high command over.
looked or underestimated the value o:
this weapon. This officer told his can
tors that the allied tanks had madc
themselves objects OF terror to the Ger
man soldiers. and he expressed wonde.