The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-08-22
KEY OF THE WHOLE
ENEMY POSITION
WEST OF SOMNE
is THREATENED
General Mangin's Army
Captures Lassigny And
Pushes Along Disc
LESS THAN MILE
FROM NOYON.
Humbert' s Army Advances
One To Two Miles On g..
Front Of Twenty
CBy Associated Pregs.l

(By Associated Press.)
Fighting their way forward along
| the southern reaches of the Picardy
! battlefront, French troops stand to-
day before Noyon. This city has been
referred to as the key TO the whole
German line west of the Somme.
| During last night General Hum
| bert's men reached the Divette river
for a long distance west Of its con-
| fluence with the Disc. South OF
| NOyon the army commanded by
| General Mangin holds the south
bank Of the Disc from Sempigny to
! Bretigny, distance Of more than
six miles. At Sempigny they are
only a little more than a mile from
| Noyon.
The line turns to the south at
Bretigny and runs to Bourguignon,
where 1t again curves to the east
and reaches the Ailette river at La
! Quincy Basse. 1t then extends
! southwark and it is officially report {
ed that the French now have reach
ed the outskirts Of POmmiers, a VIII
lage on the Aisne, less than two
! miles west of scissors.
Germans Retreat. /
German forces in the sector south
! VA ANOSO41 GLllN EN4SAAS L4LS S450 <AAS 2GAaAA
by the French official report to be
"retreating," which may account for
the rapid progress of General Man
gins army 1t is said, however, that
contact with the enemy is being
maintained by the French.
British troops attacked the Ger
mans along the line between the
Somme and the Ancre river at 4:45
o'clock this morning. This may be
considered a continuation of the at
| tack north OF the Ancre at dawn
yesterday The front OF the latest
attack is about five miles long. No
details OF the progress made there
have been learned as yet.
North of the Ancre the British
have advanced in face of the enemy
resistance and crossed the Arraa
Bapaume railway line. This rail-
road embankment was a serious OBJ
atacle to the British advance yea= !
terday.
In the Flanders area the British
are closely following the Germans
and reached Neuf Berquins. On the
northern side Of the Lys salient, in
Flanders, the Germans have been
forced out Of a strong position north
Of Bailleul. The Germans launched
heavy counter attack on the Brit
AElA pSClbADu at A4OLA0 IDGBlIGs Duh
were repulsed. Heavy fighting is re-
ported in this area. Strong German
counter attacks are developing near
Mireaumont and Irles which are near
the southern end Of the line over
which the British attacked yester-
day.
In this region the determined
resistance Of the Germans seems to
have showed up the British if it has
not checked the momentum of the
blow launched by General Byng.
The same may be said to be the
situation on the hills north OF Sois-
sons. Little progress has resulted
in this section the last few days.
Last nights German official re-
port, however, told Of the French
reaching the plateau north OF
Juvigny but said they were driven
back.
Noyon UntenabIe.
Noyon. it would appear, is almost
untenable. It would seem that a.
retreat by the enemy toward Chauny,l
further east Is almost impossible.
The railroad leading east of Eoyon
now is under direct fire from the,
French guns. The only remaining
avenue for a German retreat appears
to be northeast toward Ham.
Mount RenGud, a. height which
stands as sentinel to the south
west OF Noyon, now appears to ba
outflanked and therefore useless as
a defensive position.
There have been no reports oS
fighting from Lassigny, north Of the
Somme.
Humbert's Advance
Paris, Aug. 22.-General Hum
bert's army has made a. great ad-
vance between the Matz and the,
Oise rivers and has reached the
Ailette river. The French military
men say this makes the early fal oE
Noyon inevitable.
German troops were forced back
over a twenty mile front to a depth
Of from one to two miles from
Lassigny to the Ailette river during
the night, according to the official
statement issued at ne war office
oday.
French troops maintained contact
with retreating enemy between Matz
and the Oise and east OF the 0ise
during the night.
Four villages, Le PIenont, Thies-
court, Canneetancourt and Vflle
were occupied by the French who
have reahed the DiYette river. the
statement says.
The French have reached the Disc
on a six mile front east OF NoY0n,
their line extending from sempigng
to Bretigny.
Further east the villages of Bour-
guignon and st. Paul aux -Bols have
been taken. The Treach reached the
AtIette river at I4aquiney- Basaa.
The western outskirts OF Pommiers.
on the Aisne west OF Scissors have
also been taken.
The British Reporss
London, Aug. %. British foreas
attacked the Germans this morning
between the somrne and Ancrs
rivers. the official statement issued
at the war ONCE today Announces.
(continned on