The Carlisle independent., 1918-08-29
Advances of Allies Threaten the Whole German Line From
 YpreS to Reims.
FRENCH CAPTURE LASSIGNY
Fall of Noyon Made Certain by Vic- tories of Humbert and Manoin- Haio's Forces Give Huns Sew era Hard Blows North
 of the Somme.
By EDWARD w. PACKARD.

Blow after blow was delivered at the Germans last week along the 12O- mile front between Seissons and Ypres, and with each blow their resistance grew weaker and their definite retire ment in Picardy more certain. At no point did the allies gain any great expanse of territory, but everywhere they struck they gained ground that was of vital importance to the defen- sive system of the Huns. When the week closed it appeared likely that the enemy must withdraw from the entire Pieardy salient and that he probably would be forced back to the Chemin des Danes before long. Mar shal Foch was not only picking the pockets Of the 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 reorgan- ize their battered divisions and pre- pare for counter stroke that might be effective
 The severest blow sustained by the enemy during the week was the cap ture of Lassgny one of the key points of his defensive line. The town, which has long been but a mass of ruins, was taken by General Humbert's French army Wednesday, In the same attack ChiryOurscamp was entered, 0rval wood was taken with the grenade and bayonet and the plateau that dominated the valley of the Divette was occupied. During the succeeding night Humbert's men drove forward between the MatZ and the Disc until they had reached the Ailette.
 Humbert's troops occupied the height of Plemont on Thursday and then captured Thiescourt, thus completing the conquest of the hills comprising the Thiescourt massif.
 This, in the opinion of competent ob servers, made certain the early fall of Noyon. To make assurance doubly 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 but endangering the German lines north of the Vesle In this Oise-Aisne triangle the Huns were retiring rather rapidly and General Mangin took many thou sands of prisoners. At some points, however, notably Vezaponin, they brought up re-enforcements and coun- ter-attacked 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 Soissons, on the extreme right of this battle front, the French took Laval and reached advantageous positions on the plateau north of the Aisne.
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 On Wednesday General Byng with a British army hit the Huns with one of his sudden blows, attacking on ten-mile front north of the Ancre fac ing Bapaume and driving the enemy back in disorder for several miles. Starting at dawn in heavy fog, the British took Von Bellows troops com pletely by surprise and before the day 'closed they had captured villages, guns and prisoners in large numbers and had inflicted heavy casualties. Close behind sweeping barrage the tanks and then the infantry rushed forward until they were almost within reach of Bapaume The Germans put up stout resistance at some places. especially Courcelles, but the tanks rolled over them remorselessiy. Meanwhile the swhippe.s~ tore about the field, clean