Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 182, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 August 1918 — WAR SUMMARY. [ARTICLE]

WAR SUMMARY.

The German* have materially stiffened their defense against the British, American and French troops on the Picardy battle front, but they have been unable to stem the tide of advance against them. Although the forward march of the allies has been slowed down somewhat, nevertheless they have made further important progress from the north of the Somme, where the Americans and British are fighting together, to the northern bank of the Oise river, where the French troops are engaging the enemy. The American* and their British brother* in arm* at last accounts were pressing closely upon Bray-Sur-Somme, aided by tank* and armored cars, which inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy as he endeavored to retard their progress. Across the river the Gagman* heavily engaged the British at Lihons and it* vicinity, and at one, point pierced the British line and gained the outskirts of Lihons. A counter attack, however, entirely restored the British line and the enemy retired to position* east and north of the village. Unofficial re-

ports from London have credited the British with entering Chaulne* and the British cavalry with • penetration of the enemy’s territory almost to Nesles. These reports, however, have received no official verification. The stiffening of the German defense does not, in the minds of observers on the battle front, indicate that the retreat of the-*enemy has ended. Rather it is assumed that these maneuvers' are similar to those carried out over the Marne front, when strong rear guards covered the retirement of the crown prince’s army northward. The smoke of large fire* continue* to be seen far behind the enemy line* and the movement of long transport column* eastward is. considered evidence that it is the intention of the enemy ultimately to retreat to new line* of defense. By far the greatest progress ha* been made by the French from the region immediately southwest and south of Roye to the Oise . river. Here they have driven their line well ' across the Roye-Compiegne road and at Cambronne have reached the road leading from Compigene to Noyon. Since the capture of Montdidier the French have penetrated eastward to Tilloly, a distance of about seven miles, and to Canny-Sur-Matz, more than eight and a half miles, and through the hilly region southward to the Oise have averaged gain* exceeding six miles over a front of twelve mile*. Aviators have destroyed all the bridges across the Somme from the region of Peronne southward, and with the enemy’s communicating line* either in the hand* of the allies or dominated by their gun* the retrograde movement necessarily must be slow. Therefore, strong guard action* are requested to save large number* of men and guns and enormous quantities of store* from capture. The allied troops, gradually are encircling Roye, and its capture, which seems imminent, will greatly heighten the difficulties of the German* in falling back. Intensive air fighting is ing over the battle line. In Friday * battle 39 German machines were destroyed and 22 driven down out of control. The British war office acknowledge* that 23 British ma-

chine* are misting. On the Ve*le front the German* on the northern side of the *tream are reported to be and stringing barbed wire* over the territory, where they are facing the French and Americans.