Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-08-10
FALL OF MONTDIDIER
IMPERILS GERMANS
Placed in Pocket Similar to Ono
crsatsd on Marns- -Aisns Front and
Resulted Disastrously-capture Of
Mentdidisr Considered Most Import. .
i ant Development Of Days Battle
Americans Aiding on somm. River.
slBy the Associated pross

N ~ E'SAFVy, mas talion.
The French attacking to the south
Of the town carly this mernino
smashed thru Tho snsmy's lines and
sneirelsd the village, euttino on
the ener,y's retreat.
Between Montdidier and tho Ola.
the Frsneh have taken the offen.
sivs over q sixteen mile front and
have s~ePt the Germans back out
o. the wsstsrn side OF cha salient
they drove into tho ensmy's lines
IN the battle Of early Junst
is TO tho northWard the eritish
advance 10 unchecked. chauInes.
the German base south Of tho
somre, i In hourly peril Of being
captured.
ThS British have reached tho
village Of lihon, less than two
miles away, and have the railway
junction Of chaulnes under their
artillery fire.
sl Farther north the cermans are
resisting desperately about the
village Of MorIaneeurt, which has
boon taken. American troops in
thia9s ssctor had shand In takinn
et1s10 savassiy- defended pesition.
Thers sseSsSN fsem L ssden sgrs.
port that tt1s TfiaEtifs has sprsadt
20 Tho northward and that battle
Is being fought souto Of Arras.
This report, II true, 10 new
menace to the whole Gsrman posi-
ton north Of the somine.
Tho most important development
today 10 the French attack along
the'line from Montdidier to tho
Disc and the fall Of Montdidier.
The Germans placed a high value
on Montdidier during their often
sire in March and the fighting
shout this city in June evidenced
tho determination Of the, enemy to
tear thru the allies toward Com.
peigne.
The allied advance in Picardy
has yet had no apparent effect on
the German positions between tho
vesle and the Aisne. The enemy
still cIings to the hills north Of the
Aisne and has made attacks north
Of Rheims, which were repuised.
S Across the Nesle from Fisnres
the Americans have occupied Fis-
mette and added another bridge
head to the position north Of the
river which 10 being enlarged rap
idly. Pressure on the remainder Of
the sector continues.
British and French diplomatic
agents are reported ,arrested in
Moscow by the holsheviki, and
Great Britain has demanded the
release OF r. II. BIockhart, the
leader Of the British contingent.
Premier Lenire is reported to have
sent an ultimatum to Japan re-
sardins Siberia.
washington, Aug. 1o.-The Franco
British drive In Picardy has put tt
enemy, again in a bad position simils
o the pocket which closed UP on hi
N the Aisnc Marine front, Gener;
March said today in his weekly cor
erence with newspaper correspond
,nts:
The whole battle line from Rhein
% Flander is being Strengthened o,
md the time has come for the great
,st effort, General March said.
1 General Foch is following the SCUM
principal Of hitting without relaxation
General March said. Any suggestio
hat the end Of the war is at han
should he discouraged, the chief
staff said, but the time has come
seep the enemy running and hit hi
lard.
The greatest advantage to the allie
S that they have taken the offensi,
Ind can keep The enemy guessing IN
stead of guessing themselves,
Altho the British war office has ar
it. General March had no Of
lcial proof that the Americans al
IN the drive in Picardy.
Can't Handle Prisoners.
The chief Of staff read a confident,
'eport showing that tie British ha
aiken in the first days OF the dri,
more. prisoners than they could hand
ind also had captured all enemy a,
illery on their immediate front. TIL
'eport added that a German gener;
md his staff had been captured.
Turning to the situation on the Vesl
General March said French and Amer
can troops had been 'nibbling" alon
hat line but had made no attempt VI
o advance up the slopes of the rive
Laying emphasis on the necessity {
'ressing on vigorously and giving tn
nemy no chance to rest or readjus
himself, General March said this wa
he object Of the war department |
eakiDg to Tniss the age limits Of tn