The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-12
| GERMAN RETREAT
+ REACHES OLD LINE
Allies Push Ahead Toward the
Upper Part Of the
S0mme.
TANKS DO GOOD WORK
Enemy Troops in Large Mum.
bers Fleeing without Arms,
Airmen Report.
BY ths Assoesafed Pres.

BY the Assoetafed PSess.
WITH THE BRITISH AMY IN FRANCE,
Aug. 1.-The allied forces continued
their victorious advance all along the
line last night and to-day. pushing in
the general direction OF the upper
reaches OF the Somms They we're
smashing the st.fY resistance intsrposed
by the rear guards OF the retreatins
Germans. the bulk OF whom. according
TO reports, are fleeing in disorder. British
cavalry are reported this afternoon
operating close to the town OF Nssle,
Six miles southeast Of Chaulnes.
Many hours ago the British. French
and American troops had reached
roughly the old line held by the Germans
before their retirement to the linden
burg line. They have now pushed be-
yond in mary places. The, Germans are
face OF the FIRE from the British guns,
rifies and machine guns
Woods Resk with Gas.
The Americans and British north OF
the Somme had further hard fighting
and with nne spirit pushed on toward
Bray. They have traversed the northern
spur east OF Chipily. and EtInehem as
well is in their hands. Gressaire wood
ndu lOHE slHCc Deen ClcdTeu OF tine
enemy, II allied forces passing around
the wood. which was reeking with gas
from many pockets.
Here both the British and Americans
we're helped on their way by tanks. At
one place a tank containing twelve vol
unteers rushed strong enemy position.
Scores Of Germans were killed and seven
officers and two hundred men we're cap
tured. This permitted the infantry to
Got IN tn . hnl kie
morning.
The Americans in the lighting Of the
last twenty hours had further casual
ties. principally caused by machine gun
bullets. But their casualties were no
more than could be expected among
troops constantly delivering attacks
against the enemy, who here put up
probably the stiffest resistance OF any
along the line.
a considerable number of additional
prisoners were taken here and the Ger
mans suffered extremely heavy Iosses
Up 10 date thirty-one German divisions
have been in contact with the allied
forces OF these twenty-ons have been
engaged between the extreme left o:
the allied nank and where the French
join the British number of prison
ers from these divisions have also been
captured by the French. Ten DIVISIONS
OF Prince Rupprecht's reserves have
Deen luenIl0eC IN the nEntlhE.
Large groups OF prisoners. hungry.
thirsty and grimy and appearing thor
oughly disheartened. continue to arrive
at the collecting cages. Among the
captured were I'VE regimental command
ers and ten battalion commanders
Late To-day strong enemy forces were
concentrating east OF Proysrt and ap-
parently were making preparations to
oppose a determined resistance. How
ever, the German object probably 10
merely to cover the retreat Of the large
enemy forces They have the additional
need of attempting to take away q great
amount Of heavy material. Of which they
recently lost a large quantity. and feel
the military necessity OF risking man
power In order to protect the remain.
ing supplies.
Tho scores OF allied Observers in air
4 planes reported that long streams of
enemy troops and transports were rush.
ing eastward. including the vicinity east
OF Bray. Great columns OF Germans
were crossing the Somme River even by
the bridges that had been badly dam
aged by allied bombsrs who have
dropped many tons OF explosives at vital
points The enemy bombers also have
been busy and repeatedly were chased
away by the British pursuit planes to
prevent them from dropping bombs TO
hinder the advance Of the troops
The Germans were reported TO be re-
treating eastward past Peronne In the
greatest disorder. Many were said To he
without arms. apparently having dis
carded their weapons Among them were
many wounded men staggering along on
foot.
Fires within German Lines.
Reports from the south received here
say that the French continue TO push
along the Montdidier-Roy road. Many
fires and explosions are reported within
the German lines as their retreat goes
or. Much OF this destruction was
caused by the Germans themselves but
In some cases shells from allied guns
struck and exploded enemy ammunition
dumps.
Chaulnes was ssrouded in clouds Of
smoke, shot with flame. Among other
buildings in the town the railway station
was reported as having been burning for
many hours.
The German resistance thus far gem
orally appears to become weaker as the
battle progresses toward the centre,
especially opposite the positions held by
the Australians. Here. for instance the
artillery OF the Allies often was required
TO lift the fre a thousand yards at a
time. SO rapid has been the advance OF
the infantry. The counter attacks that
the enemy has been able 10 organize
have failed. notably to the east of Folies.
whore extremely heavy Casualties were
inflicted on the Germans
Tanks. both the large ones and the
"Whippets" again performed trernen-
dous services at small cost TO them
selves ali along the line At one small
town, south OF the Amiens- Roye road. |
the advancing French infantry sent
word to the British that they could not
get on because OF heavy machine gun |
fire from the town.
! Five ponderous armored monsters went !
over and rolled directly into the place.
Their crews discovered that the house,
were crowded with Germans manning
machine guns. principally from second |
story windows One tank leisurely adj |
vanced upon a house while a hail OF |
bullets splashed OF Its metal hide. After =!
accommodating at close range, the tank
backed on and charged home It's great |
! weight crushed In the whole building
and 1t continued forward until tho struc- |
ture was iattened out with the enemy |
machine gunners thoroughly effeced.
Tank Crushcs Whole Village.
| After this success, the four compa mon |
tanks engaged serious groups of the |
enemy and the house wrecking machine |
J %