Mexico Missouri message., 1918-09-12
Advances of Allies Threaten the
Whole German Line From
YpreS to Reims.
FRENCH CAPTURE LASSIGNY
Fall Of koyon Made Certain by Vic
tories Of Humbert and Mangin--
Hsla's Forces Give Huns Sew
eral Hard Blows North
Of the Somme.
BY EDWARD W. PlcKARp.

Blow after blow was delivered at
the Germans last week along the 12O-
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-
siye system of the Huns. When the
week closed IL appeared likely that
the enemy must withdraw from the
entire Picardy salient and that he
probably would be forced back to the
Chemin des Danes before long. Mar
shal FOch was not only picking the
pockets" of the Hun, but he was turn
ing them inside out. More than that,
he was forcing 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-
ize their battered divisions and pre-
pare for n commensurate that might
be effective.
IA
The severest blow sustained by the
enemy during the week was the cap
ture of Lassigny, one of the key points
of his 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 the
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 Mntz and the
Oise until they had reached the Ailette.
Humberts troops occupied the height
of Plemont on Thursday and then
captured Thiescourt, thus completing
the conquest of the hills comprising
the Thiescourt massif.
This, in the opinion of competent OBJ
servers, made certain the early fall
OF Noyon. To make assurance doubly
sure, General Mangin with another
French army was steadily forcing his
way up the left bank of the Disc, not
only helping to surround Noyon but
endangering the German lines north of
the Vesle. In this Oise-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 own 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.
Ia
On Wednesday General Byng with a
British army hit the Huns with ones
Of his sudden blows. attacking on a
ten-mile front north of the Ancre fac
ing Bapaume and driving the enemy
back In disorder for several miles.
Starting at dawn In a heavy fog, the
British took Won Bellows troops com
pletely By surprise and before the day
closed they had captured villages, guns
and prisoners in large numbers and
had inflicted heavy casualties Close
Behind a sweeping baTTage the tanks
and then the infantry rushed forward
until they were almost within reach of
Banaume The Germans put up stout
resistance at some places. especially
Courcelles, but the tanks rolled over
then remorselessly. Meanwhile the
evphinnets" tore about The Geld. cleRn. |