Norwich bulletin., 1918-08-12
Prisoners Captured
 Include Officers
NUMBER IS ESTIMATED AT MORE
 THAN 36,ooo
800 GUNS ARE TAKEN
Pivot of German Resistance Is Town of Noyon-Desperate Stand Expect ed to Permit Safe Retreat-Airmen Destroying Bridges Built By Ger mans-French Press Praises British High Command.

High Conna and.
 Paris, Aug. 1.-The number of prisoners taken so far in the allied of fensive in Picardy is now estimated at 36.000 including more than 1000 officers. More than 800 guns have been captured. according to the latest advices.
 The pivot of the German resistance at this stage of the battle. it now ap- pears, is the town of Noyon. about midway between Montdidier and Sois- sons. The enemy is throwing in re- serves from this base in an effort to prevent, regardless of cost, the allies from gaining control of the Noyon- Ham road. which choked with ma terial, guns and troops.
 The Germans are expected to make a desperate stand on the Rove Noyon line to permit the columns which are retreating in the direction of Nesle and Ham to reach safety.
 Violently Resisting.
 The resistance of the Germans is stiffening against the fourth British army under General Rawlinson. They are reacting violently in the region of
 
 during the night but which this morn ing was firmly held by the British.
 Bridges Destroyed.
 All the bridges across the Somme between Peronne and Ham, a stretch Of about fifteen miles. have been de- stroyed by allied aviators The Ger mans have been attempting to throw temporary bridges across the stream and the allied airmen are now sys- tematically bombing these improvised structures
 All the morning reports show ex- treme confusion among the. enemy forces in their precipitate retreat
 Among the $risoneTs taken are gen. erals. colonels and officers of all othe- grades. Eleven divisions of Generals Von Hutier and Won Marwitz have been identified by prisoners taken.
 British Command Praised.
 In speaking of the present advance the French press gives a large share Premier Clemenceau's newspaper, L. Homme Libre, after alluding to the splendid plans of the operations. says: "Ludendorff's operations were in spired by the tactics Of General Fyne 1 in the battle of Canbrai These were 1 improved upon by the French gener- als in our two counter -offensives o1 | Montdidier and Soissons and were l brought to their final period by F1el( Marshal Haig."
 La Victoire has this to say: "Onct again, British tenacity has shown how to profit by the lessons of diversity to draw from them an incentive tt victory and choose a good opportu nity."
 "5ravo British" Le Journal points out how excel lent, both as regards time and place was the plan of the attack. and con cludes it's article by repeating its Ii tie. Bravo the British"
 In the Echo De Paris Mauric Barres writes as follows: This attack all the details of which were so min utely prepared is greatly to the credi of Field Marshal Haig. We know tn traditional doggedness of the soldier Of Great Britain. who stand up to tn hardest knocks and only bide thei time in order that their revenge ma be more complete"
 In the big restaurants last night tn guests were celebrating what the characterized as "Haig's revenge" : Right Flank Menaced.
 With his right flank menaced an with a third French army under Gen eral FIum'bert harassipg his rear to point where his retreat is disorderl. General Won Hutiers army, it woul appear. will have to fall back beyon , the Rove -Lassigny line to escape veritable pulverization from the con centration of the three armies unde Generals Rawlinson, Debeny an Humbert.
 Machine Like Moves.
 The past three days have witnesse machine-l like movements by thes three armies. each reaching it's desig . mated objectives without sing hitch. The speed shown in manoeu1 ering is regarded as masterful fC such large bodies of troops. all tt 1. armies functioning perfectly.
 Twelve Miles Advance.
 The advance of twelve miles 1, l General Rawlinson's army at the ou set of the offensive was accompanie j, by a push from the First French Al my. General Humbert then delivert his stroke from the south and joint with precision in executing the pr arranged plan.
 As a result it seems likely that u |. Germans will be forced back beyo1 1 the Somme. There are some adval tages for them in the location of tn 5. stream as it winds in a general nortl erly and southeriy direction above u bend near Peronne.
 Paris Menace Removed.
 Besides crushing the enemy hope further menacing Paris the Germ; retirement under pressure from t g, Noptdidiar reoion has rest cred t0 f allies important railway facilities t absence of which previously h; Is handicapped their transport.
 The converging front of the thr = armies has made it possible at certa points to employ a cross artillery fl upon the German columns. making t problem of Von Hutier in extricatil ]. his rear guard from the Montdidi pocket a serious one.
 Official Statement.
 The text of the communication fc t, lows:
 ''This morning the enemy deliver S. strong attacks with fresh divisio brought up from his reserves again S. the British positions at Lihons and the south and north of that place l. "AH these attacks have been I pulsed after severe fighting in whi n, our troops inflicted great losses up the enemy's advancing line.
 At one point, immediately to t t, north of Lihons, German assal troops broke into our positions a r, penetrated to the west side of the V lage. They were then counter -attac ed with determination by our trool st and in the course of fierce ffghti over the difficult ground were driv