Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-08-30
cOMLBES AND BULLEC0URT CAPTURED:
BRITISH AT PER0NivE: ACROSS S0NAIVIE
All France is
JubiIQnt OUer
Defeat of Foe

Paris. Aug. 3O-"The Germans
are no more at Noyon," exclaim the
newspapers of Paris in triumphant
heavy type this morning.
Premier Clemenceaus famous
taunt 10 governments which held
power before he came into control
cannot now be used against him.
While all are eXultant and be
lieve the situation for the allies is
more brilliant than ever, previous
experience makes Frenchmen slow
to shout victory. II is realized that
the Germans, although beaten. are
still full of fight, but they are un-
doubtedly in an awkward predica-
ment
Operations during the last week
have left their front running north
and south instead of northwest and
southeast, as ii should be to per-
NIT an orderly retreat of the Ger
mans to the Hindenburg line,
where they hone to spend the win
ter, keeping the allies on the bar
rem and desolate ground 10 the
west Of that famous position.
The army is now some dozen
miles from that line and the Ba-
paume-Peronne road is being cut.
Unless he can mark time for a while
on the Tortiile river he will not be
able to hold the Peronne-Ham road,
which is particularly valuable, as
it runs along the Somme. Water is
the only thing that can stop tanks.
Once across the Somme. there is
nothing behind the enemy but a
wide plain cut only by the Omignn
river. which is useless since it runs
perpendicular to the front At the
same time he will be obliged to
hold back General Mangin south OF
the Disc, where the French army
forms a dangerous. aggressive hook
in the German flank.
Henri Bidou. military critic OF
the journal des Debats, in a dis
patch from the battle front clearly
sets forth the plight in which the
Germans are placed.
THE German retreat is being ac-
Centuated along the same lines as
during the last few days" he says,
that is to say, the Germans are
pivot:ng on their right flank which
is formed by the center and right
flank of General Won Bellows army
in the Arras region. They were
obliged to make this release be
cause General Won Hutier's position
in the Rove salient had become eX-
tremely dangerous. This necessi-
tated placing the basis for the
whole movement in the north. At
tacks by General Byng and General
Horne were intended to break this
pivot.
This maneuver was attempted in
1917 at the time of the first German
retreat. The German danger was
most grave and the enemy escaped
at that time only by sacrificing a
at present. One has the paradox
at present One ha sthe paradox
ical sight of retreat,ng army in
creasing its forces on the front.
This is absolutely abnormal in re
treat and adds 10 the confusion
and losses. II shows from what
difficulties the enemy had to eXtri-
cate himself.
"On Aug. % at Contalmaison,
north of the Sommp. General Won
Der Marwitz had - divisions in
line, two Of which had Just arrived.
The next day tha French on Mar
Wits left entered Roye and he fell
back on the Somme to avoid being
outf1anked. The confusion n tn s
mass of infantry under such cir
cumstances can be imagined In
word, the enemy was so closely
pressed in his retreat that he was
obliged TO leave his divisions in
I;ne and even reinforce them. This
is contrary to what a commander
Ily seeks to do in case OF re-
treat"