Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-08-17
FOCH DRIVES
At TCITYFROM
THREE SIDES
Capture of Town by Allies
Will Force Big Ger
man Retreat.

Paris, Aug. I'm the re-
giOn south of Rsye, French
troops have made further pro-
gress in the LOges wood and
have reached the outskirts of
the wood on the east says the
official statement from the war
Office today.
There was heavy artillery
fighting west OF ROye during
the night.
Northwest of RlbecOurt the
French have repulsed two
strong German attacks.
The Germans are planning to
evacuate the Roye-Lassigny-Noyon
salient, says the Echo de Paris.
1t is indicated, the paper adds.
that German pioneers and laborer5
are at work behind the German
front lines on new Hindenburg
line.
The German position in Roye Is
serious. Not only are the allies a
mile and one quarter west of the
town, but the roads leading out OF
it toward Peronne, Nesle and
Noyon are under fire Of allied
guns.
With the French Army in France,
Aug. 17.-(By The Associated
Press French troops this morn
ing carried out a local attack in
the region of Autreches, about 10
miles northwest of scissors and
captured the plateau north OF Au-
treches village. This gives them
command of the region extending
northward, south of the Oise river
Push Closer to ROye.
Local actions elsewhere resulted
in the further tightening OF the
grip of the allies upon the ap-
p-og ches to Roye, to the west, the
north and the south. The Ger
mans are intensifying their artil-
lery fire in that region, with no
other effect than to slow up the
allied advance.
Fall Expected Hourly.
CBy the Associated Press.)
Roye, the central hastian OF The
German defense line from Peronue
to Noyon, which has withstood al
lied thrusts for nearly a week, is
menaced seriously by advancing
French, British and Canadian
; troops and its fall would appear
to be probability Of the next few
hours.
With the town in allied hands.
the southern end Of the German
line at least, undoubtedly would
have to retire, although the north
ern end through Chaulnes TO Per
onne also would be affected. The
allies are now but a scant one and
! quarter miles west OF the town,
while they are pressing eastward
in the north and IN the south.
British Push Ahead.
London, Aug. 17.-In Picardy.
British troops have made additional
progress, says Field Marshal Haig
in his official statement today. The
/ British lines have been pushed east
ward north OF the Amiens--ROye
road and north of the Ancre.
British troops have gained fur
' ther ground in the neighborhood OF
( VieuX Berquin, at the apex OF the
I Lys salient, says the official state
ment from Field Marshal Haig to-
/ day.
! CBy Associated Press)
! Along a front OF nearly nine
miles north and south OF the Ayre,
which flows through Roye, the al
lies have pushed back the enemy in
stubborn fighting. The most uOta-
BILE advance was made on a front OF
three miles in the center by French
and Canadian troops. who now are
/ fighting on a line through Goyeu-
court, st. Mard-Les-Trio and Lau-
I court. st. Mard Is west of Roye
and there are no villages in the in
teryening mile and a quarter.
French Clear Woods.
French troops on the south have
| forced their way almost through the
/ Loges wood which borders the
/ Roye-Lassigny road on the west.
! The wood is five miles directly
south Of Roye. and il would appear
that further advance might en-
able the French 10 outtlauk both
/ koye and Lassigny and force the
Germans TO readjust their lines
eastward toward Noyon and prob
! ably beyond. North OF GoyencOurt
British forces, after having re-
pulsed an enemy attack on Damery
in which 25O prisoners were cap
tured are pushing eastward with
French units toward F'ransart and
Fresnoy- Boyc.
Artillery activity continues on the
remaining sectors OF the main bat.
tie front between the Auere and the
Disc The British on the northern
end and the French on the south.
ern, maintain their newly gained
positions and the enemy has shown
no disposition 20 attack.