The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1918-08-16
British and French Begin New
Offensive Between Albert I,
and Montd.dier.
aaIG OBJECTS The DRIVE
Niles Force Crossing of the VesIe Riv-
er in Face of Strong Resistance
Plans for Siberian Expedition
a. March States American
Army Program.
BY EDWARD w. PlcKARD.

Having thoroughly whipped the
ar7liies of the German crown prince
and driven them back beyond the
vcsTe river, Foch, now marshal of
France turned his attention in the
middle of the week to the forces I'M
der fine Bavarian crown prince, Rup-
prccht At dawn on Thursday the Brit
Gh Fourth army and the French First
sriny. under command of Field Mar
shall Haig. began an offensive on
widefront in the region east and south
east of Amiens. The front under at
trek was. about twenty-eight miles, in
Dength. from Albert south to the vicin-
fty of Montdidier.
Within "a hours the allied forces had
penetrated the enemy lines to points
ErOsu six to seven miles beyond the start,
had taken more than 10000 prisoners
srad great quantities of material and
xrany guns, and had occupied numerous
aowns. Their own losses were remark
9bEy light. Tanks led the infantry in
Mse attack and did wonderfully good
work. =
Complete success in this offensive
would result in obliterating the Ger
man salient in the Montdidier region
and would imperil the entire Hun line
from Reims to Ypres. The Germans
seem to have anticipated this move
ment by the allies and some days prev
DusIy Withdrew their forces there and
e, al, tp OF
Progress by the allies here carries
Them into the Picardy country which
vas rayaged by the Germans in their
setreat of March, 1917, and again de-
vastated by them when they drove for
ward this year.
= -
The defeated but not disorganized
HUNS between scissors and Reims, as
WAS predicted, gathered their strength
GOr pause in their retreat between
yIie VesTe and the Aisne. Their guns
were brought into play from the plat
eau i'm that region which commands
siie yesle valley The Germans, in
deed, made strenuous attempts to pre-
vent the French and Americans from
crossing the Vesle. especially in the
vicinity of Fismes, but numerous rela-
lively small units forced the crossings
and held onto their new positions de-
spite furious cOunter-attacks. These
operations were mostly between
Bruisne and Fismes. Up to the close
Of the week Marshal Foch had not
sried to send any very large forces
across the river, probably waiting I'M
oil his artillery could drive the Huns
from the nearer hills to the north.
The Germans were using only medium
eaIiber guns, which was taken to mean
izaat their heavier artillery was being
placed north of the Aisne to defend
fllat line; for there seemed little doubt
Fiat they would be forced that far
aoptFf before very long, Their position
south of the Aisne was said to be real
H uufenable though seemingly strong.
At the west end of the line the French
and Americans We're steadily pushing
east along the Aisne, and at the east
end Immediately north of Reims the
French made considerable advance be-
pween the railways running to Laen
and Rethel-
THE city of Fismes, which was so
CALAMITY taken by the Americans, was
as CALAMITY held against all attacks,
tlI0agh the Germans deluged it with
explosive and gas shells. The machine
gun and rifle fire of the Yankees was
so accurate as to arouse the edmira-
aIon of their allies
"a
Activity Increased during the week
A the Lys salient which the Germans