Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-08-10
Montdidier Falls; Foe Hees All Along Line

tor, were beaten off after sharp
fighting.
"The prisoners captured by the
Allies since the morning of August
s exceed 24,000."
Eleven German divisions have
been not only defeated in the fight
ing of the last three days, but so
utterly crushed. that the German
higher command has been unable to
make any counter-stroke anywhere.
The German communications have
been so disorganized that thus far
only two divisions of reserves have
been identified, and these new troops
have not been able to make any i'm
preston on the advancing Allies.
The eleven German divisions
which the Allies have torn to pieces
are already in such condition that
they can be of little use to the Ger
man command for a long time to
come, and probably some of them
can never be reformed.
The two new divisions which ap-
peared on the front were rushed
down the two principal arteries of
communication. 1t is along these ar
teries, however, that the Allied
forces are strongest, particularly in
cavalry and tanks, and two divisions
were far too few in numbers to stem
the on-rushing tide.
BY the Associated Press
Paris, Aug. 10.
The German army of General Won
Hutier is retreating from the Mont
didier-Noyon line.
The movements of General Dehen-
ey's French army have been light
ning-like and resulted in the taking
of prisoners to the number of sew
eral thousand. General Humbet's
army is still advancing on a wide
front east of Montdidier and has es-
tablished contact with Debeney's
forces.
The retrograde movement of the
Germans is being accelerated by the
favorable progress of the new attack
south of Montdidier.
The French War Office commu-
nique of today tells of the virtual en-
circling of the strategic objective
of Montdidier. The towns of As
sainvillers and Rubescourt were cap
tured and the French reached Fa-
verolles, less than two miles east of
Montdidier.
Northwest of Montdidier the French
have advanced east of Arvillers, six
miles northeast of Roye, and have
captured Davenscourt, two miles
east of Pierrepont and four miles
north of Montdidfer.
The retreat of Won Hutier's army
is showing traces of utmost haste.
Much war material is being left be-
hind. The German rear guards are
fighting desperately.
French COmmunique
The War Office statement reads:
THE French troops operating on the
A right of the British forces continued
their success throughout last evening
and last night. Our troops progressed
east of Arvillers and captured Da.
venescourt.
"They attacked south of the Mont
didier between Ayencourt and lie Fre-
toy ton three-mile 'front.' and occu.
pied Rubescourt and Assanvillers and
reached Faverolles."
The German retirement is under
heavy pressure from the French
armies Behind Won Hutier Is a eotin-
try that was completely devastated
during the German evacuation in
the spring of 1917, and which was
again overrun during the German Of
tensive in March of this year. The
territory offers little opportunity fol-
the formation of a defensive line for
an army in full retreat.
i 1t was in this region that virtually
every tree was felled by the Germans
so as to take from the British and
French armies any cover that might
b. afforded. Between the lines nov
-