Licking Valley courier. [volume] (West Liberty, Ky.) 19??-current, 1918-08-15
.MONTD|DIER IS
TAKEN BY FOCR;
FOE IN FLIGHT
Allies Sweep Forward Along En-
! tire Picardy Line, Taking
Many Towns.
$4,000 PRISONERS TAKEN
Capture Of FaveroIles by French Cuts
OF Won Hutier's Retreat From
Montdidler-American Troops
Take Big Part in Offensive.

WIN lIle DTltlSH ARMY III ildH'c'
Aug. 12.-,In their advance the British
have captured Warvlllers, Vrely, Fol-
les, Rosters and Vauvlllers.
The enemy seems 20 be retreatlng all
along the battle line especially in the
center where he is being heavily at
tackled by the British.
Chipilly spur, north of the Somme,
was captured by the American and
British troops. The attack began at
five o'clock when the allies moved for
ward between the Ancre and the
SOmme. They were supported by tanks
and were preceded by heavy barrage
fire. The enemy was driven toward
Bray northeast Of Chipilly.
British tanks have been seen well
to the east Of Meharlcourt. Streams
Of German transports are still going
eastward. Two New German divisions
have been engaged by the advancing
allies. Information received from pris-
oners indicates that the fighting may
soon become heavier.
Hun Retreat Cut off.
Paris, Aug. 12.-Von Hutlers retreat
from Montdidier was cut Off when the
French captured Faverolles. The Ger
man position along the Montdidler-
Roye road is precarious. At noon the
French line ran from Faverolles, Prem
mes, ROllot, Cuvilly, Ressons-Sur-
Matz and vigremont. This line puts
Montdidier behind the French line.
The towns captured in the new Pic
ardy drive include the following
Montdidier. Marlancourt, Mehari.
court, Bouchalr, Llhons, Rainescourt,
PIoyost, lie Tronquoy. Le- FreytOy, AS
=
Allnvillers, DovenscOurt. ChvlHy, Res
sons-Sur-Matz, vignemont, Vrely, Fol-
alers, Rosieres, Vauvlllers, Plennes and
Rollot.
Americans In Fight.
Washington, Aug. 12.-The British
war Office official statement on the
drive In Plcardy reveals for the first
time the fact that American troops are
taking part in this smashing blow
there against the enemy. There had
been no information here to show that
men from this country were in the
drive and the identity Of the unit or
units is not known.
Large numbers of American soldiers
are brlgaded with the British for train
lng, and they have aided in offensive
strokes, notably that at Hamel, July
4, when they advanced with Aus
tralians and took considerable ground
and some prisoners.
The presence Of the Americans be-
hind the British lines was believed to
have enabled the British to assemble
large forces for the present drive, but
the news that Americans actually are
In the fighting and have won "a consid-
erable success" was received here with
qualification.
"can't Keep Americans Out"
"You can't keep them out" was the
. comment Of one high official when told
that Americans were aiding In the
Picardy battle.
The fall of Montdldler and the begin
ming of the evacuation by the Ger
mnns of the Montdldler-Noyon front
were greeted here with high satisfac-
ton. II had been apparent TO officers
who are following developments close
n. ahok Agontdtdtar u,uSt foll ,,a,,, vno,
The retreat of the enemy along the
line southeast of that place promises
TO be a perllous movement, 1t was said,
with the strong possibility of lmpor.
tant captures in men and munitions
BY the French.
II would cause no surprise 10 OBJ
servers here II Marshal Foch extended
his thrust Immediately along the line
south Of the 0ise and link up the Plcar.
dy front with the Aisne-Vesle line, thus
threatening the enemy along the whole
front between Relms and Albert stimuli.
tnneously. Even II the Germans in
the Montdldler.Noyon pocket escape, a
French drive south of the Disc would
Immediately put them In Jeopardy
again II It met with any success.
SO far the Franco-Brltlsh movement
mas operated only In the northern Jaw
of the plncer thrust which is expected
to develop. A French attack south
OF the 0lse would set up the southern
Jaw of the movement.
Montdldler Captured.
London, Aug. 12.-The important
town of Montdidier which was approx
mately at the apex of the German sal
Z. tent south of the Somme, has been cap
tured by the allies,
The number Of prisoners taken from
the Germans In the fighting in Picard!
hAs increased to 24,000, today's wal
eipffice statement announces,
One hundred additional German guns
have been taken by the allies.
The new attacks by the French hav,
extended the battle line some slxteeI
miles farther to the southeast in th,
,Montdldler area. In this movemen
hhe French scored an advance of fou
miles In six hours.
To the north the important junction
- nhauInaa 10 noXv nuitn untanahl,