Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-08-20
TWO-M|LE GAIN IS
MADE BETWEEN O|SE
AND AISNE RIVERS
General FoCh Connects Picardy
and Aisne Battle Fronts by
Brilliant Stroke - French
Enter Suburbs of Roye

NEW YORK, Aug. 19.-(Summary of
Dispatches from the Battle Front.)--
The French. by a sudden thrust between
the Disc and Aisne, have definitely weld
ed the Picacdy and Vesle-Aisne battle
fronts.
The front now extends from Bucquoy,
north of Albert, to La Neuvillet, north
west of Rheims distance of more
than 100 miles, following the Serried
lines.
In addition to this single front there
is almost continuous lighting along a
ten-mile sector on the western portion
of the Flanders salient. and Field Mar
shall Haig today reported unusual activi-
ty on a front of about fifteen miles
north and south of Arras, which actual
ly connects with the Picardy front be-
tween Ayette and Ducqaoy. The British
captured 500 prisoners here.
The surprise attack between the Disc
and Aisne was made on a front of near
ly ten miles, between Fontenoy and a
point south of Carlepont. The French
gained nearly two miles, taking 100
prisoners. ~s.-.-
Allied pressure continues along
Chaulnes, Roye and Lassigny and the
German resistance there is believed to
be only preliminary to retirement upon
the new Somme defenses. The enemy Is
reported to be constructing a powerful
line around Nesle, which will form one
of the principal points in the new line.
On the Avre river the French captured
500 prisoners, making total OF 5000
Germans captured by the French and
British in the last twenty-four hours
The French have entered the suburbs
OF Roye and the British are Ranking the
town from the north, according to Lon
don advices which also state that the
French have penetrated into the village
of LeHamel, on the hills west of the
Disc and northwest of Ribecourt.
In French Alsace the Americans con-
tinue to improve their positions east OF
st. Die and are reported to have won
ground that will be valuable in starting
any future offensive effort.
villages Captured
In Marshal Foch'S new stroke between
the Disc and Aisne, the villages OF
Nampcel and Nouvron-Vingre, have been
captured and the French have reached
the southern edge of the ravine at
udignicourt, which is between Namp-
eel and Nouvron-Vingre.
Since the situation along the Aisne
and Vesle and in Picardy has seemed
to be approaching a deadlock indicating
a return to the cid trench warfare of the
first two years or the war. an attack
in the sector between the Aisne and the
Disc has been expected. This line is
vital to the German positions on each
side of it. If it should be broken the
whole German defensive scheme would
be thrown ont of Joint.
While the front over which the as
sauIt was launched is short compared
with those of the Marine an& Picardy
drives, the success attained by the
French appears to point to possibility
of Field Marshal Foch breaking the
enemy's resistance now held by the Ger
mans between scissors and Rheims and
between the Disc and the Ancre.
The region in which the attack was
made is quite rough and would seem
to be we'll adapted to defensive war
fare. 1t is intersected by ravines of
some depth and has high wooded ridges
here and there. 1t is an extension of the
hilly district along the Disc where
savage fighting has been going on for
the last week.