The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1918-09-05
Advances of Allies Threaten the
Whole German Line From
Ypres to Reims.
FRENCH CAPTURE LASSIGNY
Fall Of Noyon Made Certain by Vic.
tories of t'umbert and Mangin-
Haia's Forces Give Huns Sew
eral Hard Blows North
Of the Somme.
BY EDWARD w. PICkARD.

BLOW after blOW was ucllNrrGd at
the Germans last week along the 100
mile front between scissors and Yprcs,
and With each bow their resistance
grow weaker and their definite retire
mcnt in nicardy more certain. at no
point did the allies gain any great
rNlanSe of territory, but everywhere
they struck they gained ground that
was of vital Importance to the dcfcn-
sive system of the Huns. When the
week closed 1t appeared likely that
the enemy must withdraw from the
entire Picardy salient and that he
probably would be forced back to the
ChCmin dcS Danes before long Mar
/ shall Foch was not only picking the
pockets" OF tho Hun but he was turn
Ing them inside out. More than that,
he was forcing the Germans to fight
where and when he chose instead of
awaiting their attacks in sectors OF
their selection. Thus he made it al
most impossible for them to rcorgan-
lie their battered divisions and pro-
pare for q commensurate that might
be effective.
- Ea-
enemy during the week was the cap
turc Of Lassigny, one OF the key points
Of his defensive line The town, which,
has long been but n mass of ruins
was taken by General Humbcrt's
French army Wednesday. In the same
attack Chiry-Ourscamp was entered
Orval wood was taken with the
grenade and bayonct and the plateau
that dominated the valley of the
Dlrcttc was occupied. During the
succeeding night IIumbcrt's men drove
forward between the Matz and the
Disc until they had reached the Ailcttc
llumbrrtS troops occupied the height
of Plcmont on Thursday and then
captured Thicscourt, thus completing
the conquest of the hills comprising
the ThicScourt mnssif.
This, in The opinion OF competent OBJ
servers. made certain the early fall
of Noyon. To make assurance doublS
sure. General Mangin with another
French army was steadily forcing his
way up the left bank OF the Disc not
only helping to surround Noyon bll!
cndangcring the German lines north OF
the Huns We're retiring rather rapidly
and General Mnngin took many thou
sands Of prisoners. At some points
however, notably NcZnponin, they
brought up rc-cnfOrccmcntS and cOun-
tcr-attackcd heavily, with no result ex
cept to increase their own losses
Earlier in the week Mangin's troops
had won a brilliant victory in that
neighborhood in the VesSens valley
overcoming very heavy gas attacks of
the Huns. Still nearer Scissors, on
the extreme right of this battle front
the French took Laval and reached
advantageous positions on the plateau
north Of the Alsnc
Ra-
On Wednesday General Ryng with q
British army hit the Huns with one
of his sudden blows. attacking on q
tcn-mile front north Of the Ancre fac
ing Bapaume and driving the enemy
back In disorder for several miles
Starting at dawn In n heavy fog, the
British took Won Bellows troops com
pctcly by surprise and before the day
closed thcs had captured villages, guns
nnd prisoners in large numbers and
had inflicted heavy casualties. Close
behind Il sweeping harragc the tanks
and then the infantry rushed forward
until they were almost within reach OF
Nnpaumc. The Germans put up stout
resistance at some places, especially
Courcclcs, but the tanks rolled over
them rcmorsclcssly. Meanwhile the
"WhiDpotS" tore ohout the AoId clean.