The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-08-23
SITUATION OF
ENEMY ARMIES
NOW CRITICAL
Didn't Know Which Way to
Turn" Captive Officer Says
of Attack.
fBy Associated Press.)

PARIS, Aug. 23-The allies are reap
ing the fruits of the victories of July
Is and Aug. 8 in the present critical
situation in which the German COM
mand finds itself.
The German retirement around Noy-
on, 1t is held here. Is the logical con-
sequence of those victories The
French and British are pressing the
enemy SO close that he is obligated to
throw in his best troops to save him
self from disaster. In the north and
In the south the allies are dashing
upon the Germans and swapping up
prisoners and booty, sometimes get
ting into the main army defense posi-
ton.
General Mangin's pressure between
Aug. 18 and 20 resulted in the capture
Of more than 10000 prisoners and on
the 22d he forced the enemy to- beyond
the Ailette. The army of General Eb-
en- is In such predicament il is be-
lieved, that he is bound to make for
midable counter-attack to halt General
Mangin or be obliged to withdraw
from the Aisne and Vesle to the Chem
in-Des-Dames. If the enemy does not
counter-attack along the Ailette, it
probably will mean that General Won
Eben is in a sadder plight than Is
thought here
5apaume important
in the north. the British third army
has pushed the Germans so dangerous
ly near Bapaume that the German
command has found 1t necessary to
counter action attack in force The
loss of Bapaume in the present cir
cumstances would amount to disaster
The front from Lassigny to the Som
me remains stationary. The expected
fall Of Roye has not yet occurred, but
there is no hurry about that as Roye
has lost its important position, now
that all the roads leading to it are un-
der the fire of the French artillery
and useless to the enemy.
To the left of Bretiny, the Germans
are north Of the Disc, except those
that are hiding in fields and thickets,
dead or prisoner. 1t is impossible to
estimate the number of captives be-
ing sent to the camps in the rear and
army headquarters itself does not
have more than an approximate count
Only partial count has been made
of the booty which includes at least
200 guns, many of them of large cali
bre.
Resist Attack on Roye.
The Germans still are stoutly re-
sisting the first French army around
Roye. General Debeney's men, how
ever, forged ahead again today, both
north and south of that town.
In their retreat across the Disc, the
Germans did not have time to destroy
the bridges. Some were found intact,
while others were damaged
Cavalry is rendering marked service
in the pursuit of the enemy. Not only
are there cavalry advance guards, but
other troopers are following the infan-
try to take care of the machine gun
nests left behind by the Germans to
be sacrificed in attempting to check
the French advance. Aviators preced-
ed the cavalry. They are dispensing
enemy rear guards who attempt to
make a stand and are breaking up and
scattering conveys on the roads with
machine gun fire.
Batteries of guns and ammunition
wagons with the horses at the gallon
were pushing north today through an
immense dust cloud over the fields
where yesterday the German rear
guard fought desperately to save part
of their artillery. Many of the guns
had to be left behind as well as
great number of machine guns.
The devil himself could not hold
out against the attack" said one cap
tured German sub-altern. I'VE didn't
know which way to turn
The excellent coordination Of the
different branches Of the French
army is proving most effective in the
present pursuit. 1t has been the man
ner in which the infantry, artillery,
cavalry and aerial arms have worked
together that has made it so difficult
70 rthe Germans to get away.