The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-08-14
Loss of Heights Expected to
Force Foe to Retreat
in Picardy.
ALLIES take $4,000 HUNS
Field Marshal Haig Also Reports Cap
ture Of 600 Guns-Fleeing Ger
mans Set Fire to Peronne and
Other ToWns-Americans
Make Slight Advance
at Bray.

five miles southwest Of Noyon, the
great German dual pivot upon which
hinges both Won Hutier's Picardy front
and the crown princes front between
Noyon and Scissors. This Is revealed
by the war office communique, which
states that the French advanced to
within mile and half of Cambronne,
which lies six and half miles SOUTH
west Of Noyon. Piessier-Des-Roye and
BelvaI were captured by the French In
a new advance between the Matz and
Disc rivers Progress was i.iade north
west Of Curry. The Germans rendered
strong but futile resistance.
London, Aug. 14.-Since the allied
offensive began on the Montdidier-
Amiens sector August s the total cap
ture by the French First army and the
British Fourth army have aggregated
28,OOO men and 900 guns, says Field
Marshal Haig's communication from
headquarters. The communication
tive quiet on the battle front.
French Hold Heights of Lassigny.
The Heights of Lassigny, the strong
hold on which the left flank of the
German armies In the Picardy fighting
rested is in the hands Of the French.
The artillery of the allies now dOmi-
mates the town of I4assigny and the
roads beyond. After stubborn fighting
the French have repulsed heavy Ger
man cOunter-attack on LaSSigny mas
sif.
1t now seems inevitable that the
treat, or else hurl their dwindling re-
serves forward in an attempt to retake
the massif of Lassigny.
Cleared From Heights.
The French official communiQue re-
yeals that the enemy practically has
been cleared from this high ground,
since it is announced that the French
have gained a footing in the park of
Plessier de ROye, on the extreme
northern end Of the heights, and with
in mile of the town of Lassigny.
Furthermore, more ground has been
60AACu SOutACdot VI ACAC, d1u u ~
newed advance undoubtedly will spell
the doom of Noyon.
Line May CrumbIe.
In some quarters here it is expect
ed the entire line of present enemy re-
sistance will crumble, now that the
anchor, or picOt point at Lassigny has
been won by General Foch's troops.
Control Divette Valley.
The French, by gaining control of
the massif of Lassigny now command
not only Lassigny but the valley of the
Divette as we'll as the entire district
to the north.
The capture of the massif must in
evitabiy have the most serious effect
on the German positions over a wide
area, and this effect should begin to
show within 48 hours.
Expect Roye to Fall.
In the opinion of experts here the
evacuation of Roye may be expected
within a day or two, for the town is
now under a cross fire. The abandon
ment of Roye by the Germans would
also make Chaulnes difficult to hold.
Thus recent history on the Marne
is counted upon to repeat itself on
this new front.
In the region of Des LOges, south
Of Roye, the French are consolidating
their line. They hold the town, but
have not yet regained the woods be-
yOnd.
The French gains on the Lassigny
massif already have forced the Ger
mans to evacuate long line of
trenches in the valley of the Disc and
are calculated to force further evacu-
ations almost Immediately. NOyOn
will come under the fire of the French
guns as soon as the artillery can be
moved up. Then the road transports
on the whole network of highways
around Noyon will become difficult
problem for the Germans.
The Germans have evacuated their
trenches In the bend of the river west
of Bailly and the French are occupy
ing them. The move has been forced
the Disc.
First Phase of Battle Over
With the French Army in France,
Aug. 14.-The stabiliZation of the line
on the old Roye-Lassigny front is con-
sidered as the closing feature Of the
first phase of the battle of the Avre.
The second phase awaits only the ar
rival of needed re-enforcements and