The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-08-13

American troops fighting with the
british left in Picardy. This is the
= fArthest point to which Haig's forces
north Of the Somme have penetrated,
and the advance indicates that the
lGerman right, held most stubbornly
during the last four days, is being
slowly but steadily pushed back upon
fthe BapauuneP eronneHam railway,
howard which the Allied center and
right have made such menacing pro-
,:gress. They already are a mile be-
yond the German line of 1915 at the
apex.
Front dispatches reporting the evac-
5uation by the Germans of Roye, the
main railway center in their Picardy
spocket, 10 miles northeast of Mont,
;didier are still uncOnfr!ned officially,
but the towns occupation by the AL
lied center is expected momentarily.
Sunday night the French, at Marqui
villers, were only 81 miles south
west of Roye.
During the fifth day of the French.
5British-American pressure continues,
while artillery is being brought up
and the gains are being consolidated.
All along the Inc German resistance
has stiffened strongly. Teuton coun-
ter attacks, however, were without
avail.
Haig's night report announces an
advance of the British line in the
neighborhood of the Roye road, east
of Fouquescourt.
This places the British only five
miles to the northwest of Roye. The
sic tO
the southwest. At the same time,
this advance threatens the vital rail-
road point of Nesle, from which Fou-
quescourt is only II miles distant.
Less than a mile and a half away
more progress would cut the Roye-
Chaulnes railroad, Fouquescourt
lying about halfway between these
two towns, one and a half miles west
of the railroad.
Paris advices quote authoritative
estimates as placing the number of
prisoners at nearly 100000, and that
of captured guns at 700. Two gen.
erals, five colonies and a major are
among the prisoners.
Chaulnes at last accounts was still
in the hands of the Germans, who
are bending might and main to hold
Back the Allied tide from the main
avenue of escape for Won Hutier's
main forces out of the pocket north
ward.
Notable progress was again made
yesterday by the French third army,
which made such a spectacular ap-
pearance in the battle three nights
ago. Advancing north of the Oise
wrestling from the Germans the very
positions the latter bought at terrific
cost in their drive for Compiegne the
French have reached and captures
Curry, less than two miles southwest
of the important town of Lassigny
Two miles to the northwest, the
northwest the Poilus took Les Leges
Wood. Last night bitter battle was
fought for possession of the Curry
heights, to the southeast of the vii.
lage of that name. 1t was after
they had stormed these heights II
their Compiegne drive that the Ger.
mans drove to the north bank of the
Disc and joined hands with thell
other army on the other bank of the
stream.
Fifty-four German machines ant
four balloons were brought down b!
the British yesterday, the War Offict
announced last night. Fifty tons o
bombs were dropped on various Ger
man targets. Only five British ma
chimes are missing. British raidinl
planes yesterday successfully attack
ed the German towns of Frankfor
and Hagenau. At the former cit.
the chemical works were bombed, re
sulting in great bursts. At Hagena1
four German machines in an aero
drome were destroyed by direct hits
In addition to these, seven German
machines were brought down. TIL
raiders lost only two planes
A second phase of the battle ap
pears to have opened phase simil
ar to that of the German "stalling
stand on the Ourcq in the great AIsne
Marine fight.
The causes for these eleventh-hou
delaying combats are the same in bot
battles. The sacrifice Of a handfu
of divisions is a small matter as com
pared with the disaster that woul
follow if the enemy were allowed t
descend upon the chaos of a retreat
ing army that can retreat no furthe
until the lines are clear.
This sudden back-hitting of tn
Germans in Picardy is a bid for tim
until the roads are clear; as soon a
they are clear, Hutier and Marwit;
will, because they must, resume tn
retirement to the old Hindenbur
line.
The Bavarian Crown Princes re
serves are well-nigh used up. If tn
present Allied pressure continues til
two Crown Princes will have to max
heavy drafts on the other front.
Frederick William on the Verdu
army, and Rupprecht on his Flande1
forces.
With the British Army in France
Aug. 13.---During the lull in the bat
tie there are further indications tina
the line is hardening. Yesterday at
ternoon Crown Prince Rupprecht c
Bavaria seems to have brought i
more fresh troops. and while the al
lied forces are pausing of their ow
accord the enemy within the area c
his new battle front, with the Somm
at his back, is having a most uncom
Portable time.
The British guns are hammerin
Chaulnes, while cannon of larger ca
ibre are coming up all the time an
drenching the enemy rear with stee
They are also pounding away at tn
bridges across the Somme at Bother
court.
The Smelling Of the bridges here
a serious matter for the enemy, 6
bombs from the air are continual
being dropped by British airplant
from a low altitude at the bridges
the Peronne district. This bombir
has been going on day and night sinc