The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-10
Fresh Blows Bring Allied
Advance in Picardy to
II Miles.
MONTDIDIER MAY FALL
Troops Reach Chaulnes, I'M
portant Railroad Centre,
and Press Ahead.
RUPPRECHT IN DANGER
Germans Admit Losses, but
Say They Have Shot Down
Thirty Planes.
RUPPRECHT IN DANGER

LONDON, Ang. 9.-Marshal Foch,
commander in chief of the allied
armies, followed his victory of yes
terday in Picardy by ripping another
enormous hole in the German lines
to-day. While the allied troops in
the Picardy sector enlarged their
gains by penetrating another seven
miles, fourteen miles in two days,
into the lines of the Germans. Mar
shall Foch again called upon Field
Marshal Haig, commander of the
British forces in France. to strike
in the Lys Valley, where the armies
of Crown Prince Rupprech, already
ened by the calls of the Crown Prince
In the Marne sector to rebuild his
forces. which had suffered so severely
in the recent counter offensive of the
Americans. British and French.
The answer of Field Marshal Haig
MS read from the official statements
tonight was smash against the
German lines in the Lys Valley
along a front of ten miles and
penetration of approximately four,
miles, perhaps more, it being difficult
to gauge the depth of the allied ad-
vance, SO rapidly had It been made
and so short the time to calculate tho
full effect of the blow.
From the reports from the British
headquarters in France and from tho
War Office it was CLEANED that the
Germans have started n retreat per-
haps the Germans would phrase it a
strategic withdrawal-alonG the Lys
Valley. The extent of the German re-
treat is seen in the report of the Brit
ish OF the capture of LOGON, lie Cornet
Malo, Quentin. lie Petit. Pacaut and
Lesart. and perhaps more vllagea
when the full returns are in. In addi-
ton the Germans are burning huge
stores Of supplies. and the lines in the
German back areas are crowded with
transport columns Fastening to with
draw the munitions and to preven.
them from falling into the hands of
the Allies. In the retreat the Ger
mans are being hampered in the work
OF the allied airmen, who are bombing
the transport columns and even at
tacking the soldiers on foot and wreck
ing the German lines.
This blow was struck in the centre
of the German line in Flanders. and
some military experts tonight view it
as a break through" and others ;lot
so optimistic see the break through"
sure to come unless. Crown Prince
RuppreCht rallies the weakened forces
of Germany to his rescue and gives
battle. Calling upon the commanders
of the other sectors for help-a favor
ite resort of the Germans in the past
when unification of the allied command
was future prospeCt-will weaken
these lines and leave them open f'r a
new offensive in another quarter. n
menace equally grave to the German
high command.
The drive in the LyS sector. coupled
with the offensive under full headway
in PiCardy, and ever increasing dan
ger of a continuation of the drive in
the Marne region, may force a lar,;ec
retirement of the Germans from
Albert to Montdidier. Some eXIcrts
view 1t as an invitation TO tho Ger
mans to fight IT out now" and they
assert that the turning battle Of the
war-perhaps the decisive one--ls en-
tering its initial stages.
At the time the British made their
dash into the lines in Flanders tho
British and French in picardy increased
their gains there, adding seven miles TO
their penetration Of seven miles Of tho
day before This is highly significant.
indicating that the command of Gen.
Won Hutier, is unable to cope fully with
the new offensive of the Allies The
British forces in Picardy drove forward
to the vicinity of Chaulnes, an important
railroad junction, capture of which may
compel a retirement further south in
the vicinity of Montdidior.
In Picardy the Germans offered SITTER
resistance than in Flanders, and around
. Morlaucourt the allied advance was not
, made without hard fighting Morlan-
n court was captured after hghtinE Of a
night and a day by the British, and the
Q French advancing III 'ohJuhttoh TOOK
, the towns OF Pierrepont, COutorie and
Arvillers an advance Of nine miles Tot
y , the French,
I The British War Office tonight an
{ nounced that the new drive had netted
= 1900 prisoners and between 800 aud
400 guns The figure IL believed to
e represent the net result Of the lighting
on the Lys and also to the southeast
of Am!ens. in the Picardy sector. Tno