Omaha daily bee., 1918-08-12
ALLIES KEEP
HUNS MOVING
AT HOT PACE.
Germans Stiffen Resistance on
PiCardy Front, but Are Unable
to Withstand 0nSIaughts
of Americans.
BY Associated Press.

Inc NeIlldnS nave materially SUI"
iened their defense against the Brit
ish, American and French troops on
the Picardy battle front, but they
have been unable to stem the tide.
Although the forward push of the
allies has been slowed down, they
have made important progress from
the north of the Somme, where the
Americans and British are fighting
together, to the northern bank of the
Disc held by the French. 4a.-,s,-4.4-..-.i
Americans and British are pressing
closely upon Braye-Sur-Sommc aided
by tanks and armored cars. I
Across the river the Germans heav-
lily engaged the British at Lihons and
its vicinity, and at one point pierced
the British line and gained the out
skirts of Lihons. A counter attack
restored the British line and the en-
emy retired to positions east and
north. Unofficial reports credit the
British with entering Chaulnes and
the British cavalry with penetra-
tion of the enemy's territory almost
to Nesles.
French Are Pushing On.
The greater progress has been
made by the French from the region
Immediately southwest and south of
Roye to the Oise river. Here they
have driven their line we'll across the
Roye-Compiegne road and at Cam
bronze have reached the road lead
ing from Compiegne to Noyon.
Since the capture of Montdidier
the French have penetrated eastward
to Tillely, a distance of about seven
miles, and to Canny-Sur- Matt, more
than eight and one-half miles, and
through the hilly region southwark
to the Disc have averaged gains ex-
ceeding six miles over front of Il
miles.
The stiffening of the German de-
tense does not, in the minds of OBJ
servers on the battle front, indicate
that the retreat of the enemy has
ended. Rather it is assumed that
these maneuvers are similar to those
carried out over the Marne front,
when strong rear guards covered the
retirement Of the crown princes
army northward.
Bridges Are Destroyed.
The smoke Of large fires continues
to be seen far behind the enemy's
lines and the movement of long trans
port columns eastward is considered
evidence that it is the intention of
the enemy ultimately to retreat to
new lines of defense. Aviaors have
destroyed all the bridges across the
Somme from the region of Peronne
southwark, and with the enemy's
communicating lines either in the
hands of the allies or dominated by
their guns the retrograde movement
necessarily must be slow.
The allied troops are encircling
Roye and its capture, which seems
imminent, will greatly heighten the
difficulties of the Germans.
Intensive air fighting is proceeding
over the battle line. In Fridays bat
ties 50 German machines were de-
stroyed and q driven down out of
control. The British war Office ac-
knowledges that % British machines
are missing. Unofficial estimates
bring the number of prisoners taken
by the allies up to 10000 and the
number of guns captured to more
than 500.
On the Vesle front the Germans
on the northern side of the stream
are reported to be entrenching and
strlnging barbed wires over the ter
rItory where they are facing the
French and Americans