The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-08-20
FRENCH FORCE
[continued From Page one.l

In Flanders the British have made
additional appreciable gains in the
Lys salient and the German situation
within the salient appears more diff
cult daily. Driving against the head
of the salient, the British have won
ground on a front of nearly six miles,
and entered the important town Of
Merville, where the Clarence river en-
tiers the Lys.
Noyon fast is becoming the central
point Of the salient such as that which
centered around Montdidier at the be-
ginning of the Picardy offensive. The
stability of the present German line
from the Somme to Rheims depends
greatly upon the holding of the Noyon
salient whose western outposts are
Roye and Lassigny. British troops are
reported to have reached the railroad
station in the western suburbs or
Roye. The French have driven the
wedge between Roye and Lassigny to
Fresnieres, cutting the main highway
between the towns, In addition to be-
ing threatened from the west, Las
signy is being approached from the
south by General Humbert's troops
who have finally debouched from
Thiescourt wood.
French Menaces Noyon.
Along the western bank Of the Disc
and south of Noyon the French have
taken Pimperz and reached Dreslin-
court, to the northwest. East Of the
river toward scissors, General Mangin
has captured more high ground and
has taken Morsain, and has brought
his total of prisoners to 1920. In this
operation, the French not only menace
the security of Noyon but relieve the
pressure against scissors. From the
heights around Morsain, they can bonn
bard the German battery positions
north of scissors which have been
harassing the allied occupants of that
city.
If Marshal Foch can succeed in
pinching off NoyOn and advancing
northward, he virtually will compel
Germans to retire from the present
line north of Roye toward Arras and
will hasten, if not force German re-
treat to the north Of the Aisne be-
tween Scissors and Rheims. Success
around Noyon might be far-reachlng
but the terrain is difficult because OF
the woods and hills and German re-
sistance may continue stubborn.
There has been only slight activity
along the Vesle, the French and Amer
leans having enlarged their holdings
north of the river by slight advances
at several points.
There has been no change In the
German tactics between the Ancre
and the Disc, which might have been
expected from the appointment OF
| General Boehn, who conducted the re-
| treat from the Marine, to the supreme
command in that area. Berlin says
that Monday allied thrusts west of
| Chaulnes and north of ROye failed
while the French were repulsed in a
vigorous battle between the Disc and
the Aisne London reports the check
| ing of German efforts between Herle-
vile and Ihons, west of Cleanliness.
British Are Advancing.
In the operations around MerVllle
the British have taken more prisoners
in addition to the 675 captured in the
successful storming of the Outtersteen
ridge. The British forward movements
| in the Lys salient are not yet very
threatening to the strong German po-
sitions on the hills north and north
west of Armentieres, but if they can
| be continued eastward, the nigh
ground from Mont KENNEL eastward
will be Outflanked.
Allied forces in Vladivostok have
been reinforced by the arrival of
second transport and a third trans
port is expected. North of Vladivostok
| the Czecho-S lovaks have been engaged
in heavy fighting with the Bolshev1ki
! forces on the Ussuri front The
Czechs have been driven from their
outposts.