The Red Cloud chief., 1918-09-05
Advances of Allies Threaten the
Whole German Line From
YpreS to ReimS.
FRENCH CAPTURE lASSIGNY
Fall Of Noyor Made Certain by Vic.
tories Of Humbert and Mangin-
Haio's Forces Give Huns Sew
eraI Hard Blows North
Of the Somme.
BY EDWARD w. PIckARp.

Blow after blow was delivered at
the Germans last week along the 100
mile front between Scissors and Ypres,
and with each blow their resistance
grew weaker and their definite retire
ment In Picardy more certain. At no
point did the allies gain any great
expanse Of territory, but everywhere
they struck they gained ground that
was Of vital Importance to the defen-
sive system Of the Huns. When the
week closed II appeared likely that
the enemy must withdraw from the
entire Picardy salient and that he
probably would be forced back to the
Chemin DIES Danes before long. Mar
uhal Foch was not only picking the
pockets OF the Hun. but he was turn
ing them inside out. More than that.
he was forcir1 the Germans to fight
where and when he chose instead OF
awaiting their attacks In sectors Of
their selection. Thus he made 1t al
most impossible for them to reorgan-
lie their battered divisions and pre-
pare for n commensurate that might
be effective.
"a
The severest blow sustained by the
.nemy during the week was the cap
ture of Lassigny, one of the key points
of mis- defensive line. The town, which
has long been but a mass of ruins,
was taken by General Humbert's
French army Wednesday. In the same
attack Chiry-Ourscamp was entered,
Orval wood was taken with he
grenade and bayonet and the plateau
that dominated the valley of the
Divette was occupied. During the
succeeding night Humbert's men drove
forward between the Matz and the
Disc until they had reached the Ailette.
Humbert's troops occupied the height
Of Plemont on Thursday and then
captured Thiescourt. thus completing
the conquest Of the hills comprising
the Thiescourt masslf.
This, in the opinion Of competent OBJ
servers, made certain h early fall
of Noyon. To make assurance doubly
sure. General Mangin with another
French army was steadily forcing his
way I'D the left bank Of the Disc, not
only helping to surround Noyon but
e%ndangering the German lines north OF
the yesle. In this Olse.Aisne triangle
the Huns were retiring rather rapidly
and General Mangin took many thou
sands of prisoners, At some points,
however, notably VezapOnin, they
brought up re-enforcements and coun-
ter-attacked heavily. with no result ex'
cept to Increase their W losses
Earlier in the week Mangin's troops
had won a brilliant victory In that
neighborhood, In the Vessens valley
overcoming very heavy gas attacks OF
the Huns. Still nearer scissors, on
the extreme right of this battle front
the French took Laval and reached
advantageous positions on the plateau
north of the Aisne.
RI
On Wednesday General Byng with @
British army hit the Huns with one
of his sudden blows, attacking on {
ten.mile front north of the Ancrc fac
Ing Ranaume and driving the enemy
hack I'm disorder for several miles
Starting Mt dawn In n heavy fog, th'
British took Won Bellows troops com
plctely by surprise and before the da!
closed the, had captured villages, gum
and prisoners in large numbers an'
had inflicted heavy casualties. Clos
behind n sweeping barrage the tanks
and then the i.fantry rushed FORWARD
until they were almost within reach o
Bapaune. The Germans put up stou
resistance at some places, especial,
Courcelles, but the tanks rolled owe
them remorselessly. Meanwhile tn
"whippets' tore about the field, clean