Licking Valley courier. [volume] (West Liberty, Ky.) 19??-current, 1918-08-29
Advances of Allies Threaten the
Whole German Line From
YpreS to Reims.
FRENCH CAPTURE LASslGNy
Fall of Noyon Made Certain by Vic.
tories Of Humbert and Mangin-
Hag's Forces Give Huns Sew
eral Hard Blows North
of the Somme.
BY EDWARD w. PIcKARD.

Blow after blow was delivered at
the Germans last week along the 100 4;
mile front between scissors and Ypres,
and with each blow their resistancel
grew weaker and their definite retire
ment in Plcardy more certain. At no
point did the allies. &ain any. great,
'eXpnnse of territory, but eyefywherc
they struck they gained ground that
was of vital Importance to the defen-
sive system of the Huns. When the
week closed It appeared likely that
the enemy must withdraw from the
entire Plcardy 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 it al
most impossible for them to reorgan-
lze their battered divisions and pre-
pare for cOunter-stroke that might
be effective.
III
The severest blow sustained by the
enemy during the week was the cap
ture of Lasslgny, 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 ChiryOurscamp 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 Matz and the
Disc until they had reached the Ailette,
Humbert's troops occupied the height
Of PlemQnt on Thursday and then
captured Thiescourt thus completing
the conquest of the hills comprising
the Thlescourt maSsif.
This, in the opinion Of competent oh
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
cndangering the German lines north of
the vesle. In this 0ise-Aisne triangle
the Huns were retiring rather rapidly
and General Mangin took many thou
sands of prisoners. At some points
however, notably Ve2aponin. they
brought up e-enforcements and coun
ter.attacked heavily, with no result cX
cept TO increase their own losses
Earlier In the week Mangln'S troop,
had won brilliant victory in thai
nelghhorhood. in the VesSens valley
, overcoming very heavy gas attacks O
the Huns. Still nearer SoisSons, or
the extreme right Of this battle front
the French took Laval and reache,
. advantageous positions on the plateau
A north of the Aisne
|. NJ
0 On Wednesday General Gyng with |
:. British army hit the Huns with on
of his sudden blows, attacking on
ten.mlle front north OF the Ancre fac
,. ing Bapaumc and driving the enem
i back In disorder for several miles
u Starting at dawn In II heavy fog, th
3. British took Won Bellows troops con
/. plctely by surprise and before the da
~ closed thcS had captured villages, gun
d and prisoners In large numbers an
v. had inflicted heavy casualties. Clos
behind sweeping harrage the tank
and then the infantry rushed forwnr
until they were almost within reach q
,s Bapaume The Germans put,up stor
Il resistance at some places, especial
st Courcelles. but the tanks rolled ov'
al them remorselessly. Meanwhile III
Al n.lI .l.as