The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-08-08
ALLIES GAIN
IN new DRIVE
LAUNCHED ON
28.m|LE LINE
French and British Advance
Three Miles-Action Takes
Place Near Old Battle
Ground of Picardy.
TAKE MANY PRISONERS
(By Associated Press,

(By Associated Press,
WITH THE BRITISH ARMY
IN FRANCE, Aug. Sin the
district north of the Somme the
Germans are reported to have
launched two counter attacks.
The British artillery fire broke
them both up.
Prisoners taken by the Brit
ish are so numerous that they
are having difficulty in handling
them.
French and British tanks have
crossed the Avre Luce valley in
the new drive this morning.
The German positions just
south of the Ancre river were
heavily attacked by the British.
Their assault extended to the
south where their right wing
joins the French line. Three
quarters of an hour after the
British attacked the Germans,
the French took up the battle.
The main weight of the allied
blow was directed against Cen
eral Hutier's 18th army.
News from the Soissons-
Rheims front this afternoon is
that the Germans are holding
the northern bank of the Vesle
in considerable strength with a
large number Of guns. They
are believed to have destroyed
some of the bridges over the
Aisne and to have taken some of
their heavy guns across that
river. ,,,.,...
Several thousand prisoners
have been taken by the Franco
British forces in their offensive
in Picardy. Reports received
this afternoon say the allies
have captured the towns of Nor
euil, Demuin, Alancourt and
Morlancourt, the heights west
of Cerisy and the heights south
of Morlancourt.
PARIS PICARDY BATTLE
FRONT, Aug. 8-The allied at
tack on the Albert Montdidier
sector today apparently was un-
expected by the Germans and
many prisoners were taken.
One German division was sur
prised as it was coming up to re-
lieve the front line troops.
Reports received up to mid
afternoon indicated that the Of
fensive was progressing favor
ably. The average advance was
approximately 2 1-2 miles on a
front of slightly more than 25
miles.
The allied advance at some
points was more than three
miles.
Important Material Taken.
Important material has been
captured by the advancing
troops. British and French
troops attacked this morning
from Albert northeast of Amiens
to Montdidier on the Avre.
southeast of Amiens, the front
% miles.
Meager reports from the field
indicate that the allies have ad-
vanced to a depth of two miles
south of the Somme and probab-
lv have taken the villages of
Marcelcave and La Motto en-
Senterre.
1t is reported from Washing
ton that it is not believed
American forces are engaged in
the present fighting. Ameri-
cans were holding the line at
Cantigny, some time ago, but
were withdrawn and sent to the
Aisne-Marne salient where they
participated in the recent vic
tory over the Germans.
New Blow Expected.
This new attack launched just three
weeks after Marshal Foch's mastery
counter offensive against the west.
ern side of the Soissons-Rheims sal
lent has been expected since the Ger
mans were driven back to the Aisne
and the Vesle. 1t was not believed
that the allied commander would per-
nit the initiative to pass to the en-
emy after the stunning defeat admin
istered to him along the Marne. Foch
is known to be an offensive fighter