Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1918-08-16
HUNS ON THE RUN
ON PICARDY FRONT
MoNTDiplgR FALLS TO ALLIES
AND eERMANs ARE RETREAT
ING TO THE soMME.
Americans Aid In Rolling Back Teuton
Line, Enemy Being Unable 20 Stop
the Victorious Allies In Latest
Drive Toward Berlin.

Paris.-The French have driven the
Germans before them for an important
gain east Of Montdidier in Picardy.
That city, which was the apex Of
German salient that now has been
wiped out, fell to the French fourth
army at midday Saturday. Before
nightfall the victorious French forces
had carried the battle line onward to
an average depth Of six miles on
front Of approximately twenty miles.
In the three days Of engagements
that eliminated in the taking OF Mont
didier, the French took 5000 prisoners
Their capture also included 200 guns
and an enormous amount Of material.
Crushed by. the impact OF the BRIT
ish, French and American offensive on
the battle line from Albert, northeast
of Amiens, to Disc river north Of Com
piegne, German forces are streaming
back toward the Somme river and the
Nesle-NOyon canal. So far as can be
determined, the enemy is In full re-
treat all along the front against which
the allies flung themselves the latter
part of the week.
The drive OF the past week in Pic
ardy was complete success. The real
offensive was launched from the dlrec-
ton of Amiehs within three days after
the French and Americans had been
definitely halted at the Vesle river.
Before the crown prince could send
back any divisions to Picardy the
British and French swept forwar4 IT.
reslstibly with tanks. big and little. as.
the piece de resistance of their drive.
With Villers Bretonneux as center,
the British struck to the north and
south. Their northern flank Of attack
reached almost to Albert, their south
ern to .Hangard. South Of that the
French were ready for attack near
Morisel and Moreuil, where heavy re-
| sistance was to be expected. The Brit
lsh attacked without artillery prepa-
ration. The French bombarded the
enemy for about As minutes before
moving forward to the assault. Then
| they took Morisel and Morueil in Sc
we're fighting. Meanwhile the British,
Australians and Canadians had been
pushing forward south Of the Somme
with the apex Of their wedge directed
| toward Rozieres. The first day they
did not take that town, which is about
seven or eight miles east of Villers, but
they gained positions beyond 1t to the
north. On their left flank the British
did not make much progress north of
the Somme, and ON the second day of
the fighting they lost Chipilly. On that
day, however, the German resistance
to the south was broken by the British
and French, who began to get Montdi-
der into pocket.
To the north, in the center. the Brit
ish, with Canadians and Australians,
continued to gain toward Chaulnes
after occupying Rezieres At Chipilly
Americans were thrown into the fight
Friday afternoon, and, with the aid of
the British, recaptured it. On Satur-
day they pushed some distance beyond
ChlpiIly and Morlancourt, In the same
| region.
By this time the enemy's lines had
been so seriously shattered that gem
erai retirement to a wholly new line
was imperative. Indeed, the high COM
mand probably had given the order for
this retirement on the first or second
day of the fight, but even this timely
provision failed to prevent the allies
from capturing hundreds of cannon
and thousands of prisoners.
/ The American drive in the Marine
salient was the turning point of the
war, but 1t is doubtful whether it OBJ
taIned the fruits that would seem t.
be the inevitable sequence OF tbs
Franco-B British victory, in which ths
Americans are successfully parhcipat
ing. Both battles have been entents
successes In special sense.
On the Soissons-R Rheims front tn,
French and Americans have been nib
bling at the enemy. but In the process
. they have established some strOnl
; | bridgeheads across the Vesle rive
. from which to continue their opera
lions. II the Germans retreat to tn
! Hindenburg line, there viii be n
. chance Of holding the line of the Vesle
] and the crown prince will Withdraw
} without attempting to try conclusion
; with the French and Americans sout
; Of the Aisne.
, BY means Of their air supremacy tn
. allies can watch every movement O
> the retreating enemy as II the entir
: battle were being thrown upon a mo1
3 Ing picture screen. The enemy, NEAR
' time, is almost blind. His machine
1 have been downed in such number
8 that he cannot tell. what the oppOsln
> forces are doing or planning.
a Commander who Sank Lusitanla Dea
{ London. - Lieutenant Commando
i Schwieger. who commanded the SUI
q | raar-gna which sank fha Tnzifax.la