The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-08-09
FRANCO-BRITiSH
IN new DRIVE
Take 1000 Prisoners and
100 Guns.
ADVANCE ON 25-MILE FRONT
Four Divisions Of Gen. Won Hutler's
Army is Badly Cut Up-ohensive
Still in Full Swing.

London, Aug. 9.-Ihree import ant
towns-Moreuil, Morisel and Mnr'an-
cOurt-many villages, at least 900
prisoners and 100 guns had been TAX
en- in the allied drive in Picardy, be-
gun on a twenty-fve-mile front he
tween Albert and Mintdidier.
A maximum advance of more than
four miles had been made, and the Of
fensive was still In full swing.
Field Marshal Haig's statement
shows that the enemy line has been
driven in about seven miles and
half in the center at Plessier, which
lies southeast of Moreuil. Goodly
gains also have been made eastward
over the front of fifteen miles lying
between Plessier and Morlancourt.
The statement says that no estimate
can be made. but that several thou
sand prisoners and many guns have
been taken.
Seven thousand prisoners and up
ward of 100 guns already have been
captured, Andrew Bonar Law, chan
cellor Of the sxchequer announced in
the commons.
All points set as the allies objec-
tives have been obtained, he added.
Latest information of the attack,
he said, was that the Fourth British
army, comprising English. Australians
and Canadians, attacked on a front
Of twenty kilometers ON miles) be-
tween Montdidier and Morlancourt.
"I have been in communication with
headquarters by telephone" said the
chancellor. 1.-THE result will give
satisfaction to the members.
1T is possible that the Germans in
tended to retire, but our attack came
as a complete surprise to them and
upset their plans. The result is an
indication of the complete change In
the military position in the last few
weeks"
The attacking armies are the British
Fourth and the French First. Field
Marshal Haig is in chief command
Of the drive, responsible only to Mar
shall Foch. The German Fourteenth
army, under Won Hutier, is suffering
the brunt Of the allied attacks.
Only three minutes of heavw bonn
bardment preceded the British attack,
which was launched at dawn. Its
chief weight WAS thrown against the
German lines in the angle formed by
the Albert-Amiens and the Nestle
Amiens roads.
A little later the French big guns
opened and blazed away for fully for
ty minutes. when the poilus Joined
their British comrades in the infantry
drive, sufzing forward on the right
Of the British.
The main momentum of the French
attacks was concentrated on the line
between Moreuil and Aubercourt.
The zone of the offensive is travers-
ed by the Ancre, Somme, Avre and
Luce rivers.
Allied progress was swift from the
outset. The Germans appear TO have
been caught mapping
The 9th, 43d and 1Osth divisions of
Crown Prince Rupprecht's army have
suffered heavily, while the 117th d.
vision, which only came into the line
the day before, has beer badly cut
up.
The only determined enemy stand
was made around Morlancourt, where
there was fighting throughout the day.
The enemy made several counter at
tacks but without recovering any
ground
The French forces have also done
wonderfully.
French and British tanks have
crossed The Avre-Lucy valley in the
allied blow was directed against Gen
eral yon Hutier's eighteenth army.
The greatest secrecy surrounded
plans for the attack. During the night
the Germans heavily bombarded the
British lines, but their shells were
number Of tanks accompanied the
storming troops, clearing the way for
them In the gray light of dawn and
helping 70 overcome enemy strong
points.
While the British south Of the Son.
me were making important progress
their troops to the north were like
wise pushing ahead The French on
the British right also reported that
! they were progressing well Brisk
fighting was still continuing as this
despatch was filed. shortly before
noon.
Early in the fighting 1t was discov-
cred that one new enemy division
had Just arrived In this area. Prison
ers taken from 1t said the Germans
believed the British were going to at
tack. hut did not knoE - la "a lie
assault was going to be launched II
Is evident. however. that the attack
was surprise.
Other prisoners taken were from
"r'ors Prussian and Bavarian divfs-
IONS.
Hope For Lads Reported Drowned.
Harrisburg, Pa, Aug. 9.-Hope that
Raymond Wertz, fourteen years old,
and Blain Laird, aged ten, of Alpine,
York county, were not drowned while
fishing in ConewaEo creek. was enter
tanned by the parents Of the bays.
They believe the lads lost the 66At
spd are afraid TO come home