The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-08-05
U. S. TROOPS win
GREAT VICTORY:
TAKE 8,400 HUNS
Gen. Pershing Says Foe Is Driven
in Confusion Beyond
VeSie River.
FISMES WON BY YANKEES
Germans Retreat on Ten-MiIe Front
Between Mondidier and MoreuiI-
Villages of Hamel and Dernan-
court Captpred by Allies
British Patrols Reach
Ancre River.

Ancre River.
Washington, Aug. 5.-"Our troops
have captured Fismes by assault and
hold the south bank of the VesIe in
this direction" says a communication
from General Pershing covering Sum-
days fighting, received by the war de-
partnent
At the British Front, Aug. 5.-Brit-
ish patrols have entered Albert. 1t ap-
pears certain the Germans will evacu-
ate the city.
Washington, Aug. 5.-General Per-
shing's communique for Saturday
says:
Section A-The full fruits of VIC
tory in the counter-offensive begun so
glOriously by Franco-Amerithn troops
on July is We're reaped Saturday when
the enemy, who met his second defeat
on the Marne, was driven in confusion
beyond the line of the Vesle.
"The enemy, In spite of suffering the
severest losses, has proved incapable
of stemming the onslaught of our
troops fighting for liberty side by side
with French, British and Italian vet
Grams. In the course of the operations
S,4OO prisoners and 1873 guns have been
captured by our men alone.
Section B-There is nothing to re-
port in this section"
nf 81
court are in the possession of the al
lies.
Stand at Chemin Des Danes.
The situation is generally considered
highly satisfactory and the indications
seem palmer that the Germans do not
intend, farther SOUTH to make a per-
manent stand on the banks of the
Aisne, but that theX will retreat to the
Chemin des Danes ridge, which Is one
of the strongest positions in France,
and for the moment will try to hold
the French while getting away with
munitions. g.
The allies captured the Chemin des
Danes once and may do so again.
U. S. Men on Front
The retirement Of the Germans be-
tween Montdidier and Moreuil is over
front Of approximately ten miles. On
the southern half Of this front Ameri-
can cOntingents have been stationed
for some time.
Along the northern half Of the line
the French, on two occasions, have
driven into the German lines so that
their front before the present German
withdrawal began ran along the hills
dominating the Avre river from Castel
to Aubvillers.
This withdrawal, taken in conjunc-
ton with the German retirement
across the Ancre, from Dernancourt
to Hamel, about fourteen miles to the
north, may mark the beginning Of q
German "strategtc retreat" which may
have been planned to fOrestall Brit
ish attack which dispatches had indi-
Gated was imminent in this sector.
Germans Lose Heavily.
While the armies are moving, and
while preparation for what may be
great struggle are being made, the cost
and gain Of the big drive are being es-
timated.
There is no doubt the Germans lost
a large number of men, killed, wound
ed and captured, while the losses Of
the allies are considered negligible,
especially in men taken prisoner.
ci1 hn CT oC1n a.
by the allied armies, the morale Of the
men has been wonderfully reinvig-
grated.
The path Of the allied troops today
was through territory that betrayed
more and more the enormous sacrifice
made by the Germans In material.
At one depot near rFere-en-Tardenois
it is estimated that more than $4,000
600 worth of ammunition and general
stores fell into the hands Of the allies
while the volume Of supplies destroyed
at this same depot is believed to have
amounted to several times that value
Foe Retreats in Picardy.
London, Aug. 5.-General Foch's
steady advance between Scissors and
Reims has forced Ludendorff to begin
a strategic withdrawal before Amiens,
in Picardy.
Northeast Of Amiens the Germans
have retired from the east to the west
bank of the Ancre river on a six-mile
front centered on Albert and extending
from Beaumont Hamel to Dernacourt.
Southeast Of AmienS thew have fall
en- back over the Avre river on front
of some ten miles between Moreuil
and MOntdidier.
Allied patrols are following up the
Norv,,opc ond oro IN oopo<onk