FOLLOWS FOCH'S NEW BLOW

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 37, 12 August 1918, Page 7

FOLLOWS FOCH'S NEW BLOW

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MONTDIDIER AND CHAULNES CAPTURED

(BY TELEGRAPH. —UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPYRIGHT.)

(AUSTRALIAN-NEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION.)

(Received August 12, 10 a.m.)

NEW YORK, 11th 'August.

'Mr. Franfc H. Simonds, the leading American military expert, writes : *'The German defeat between the Somme and the Oise has already attained the proportions of a great disaster. Within three days General Foch's second blow has dislocated more than a hundred miles of the German, front. There is reason to believe that the German withdrawal will reach the old Hindenburg lirie. IThe occupation of Chaulnes paralyses the railway lines Within the collapsing salient, and the Germans west of the line from Chaulnes to Noyon are in a desperate situation. They may escape, but they, will be forced to leave behind their guns and munitions. A great victory has been won, but the consequences pray not yet be measured. ■ . ... LONDON, 9th August. . General Maurice says: "I do not think there has been any battle in the^ West since trench warfare began in which we or our Allies, or the Germans, ever ibefore penetrated to a depth of seven miles in the first advance. It seems imiprobable that the enemy will be' able to maintain himself in the Roye-Montdidier salient. Certainly he must make a witdrawal compared with that on the - Marine' if we (japture Chaulnes railway junction. The best the Germans can hope*is that their, reserves will arrive in time to prevent such a disaster." (Received August 12, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, 11th August. General Maurice writes: "The British near Chaulnes should now be able

io strangle the enemy's communications in the Montdidier salient, in the same way as Foot's blow on the »Somme upset the arrangements for supplying the ■* troops in the Marne salient, and thereby eventually enforce a retreat. Our rapid advance south of the Somme has begun to have that effect. The French, have extended the attack to the south as fax v as the Matz, and are steadily poshing the enemy back from his position qn the Avre. It is in this quarter that we may expect the greatest progress in the immediate future, because the enemy is certain to strive desperately to check the centre of the attack in the neighbourhood of Chaulneß, where our men are fighting, until he extricates Ms left flank, to prevent a dangerous position. Some'of the effects of the victory are already apparent. The main railway line from Amiens to Olermont is in working order, and there is a possibility that within a day or two we shall be ■using the line from Amiens along the Avre Valley to Compiegne, thus improving our chances of developing the victory. The Germans are now pressed everywhere along a forty-five mile front, and we may fairly hope, working from such a wide base, to force' the enemy back as far as the line of the Somme from Peronne ;to Voyennes,' and-thence along the canal to Noyon. . ,This will amply the recapture of the bulk of the ground lost in the great battle last [March." (Received August 12, 8.30 a.m.} ' LONDON, lltH August, The prisoners already captured total 36,000, and the guns 500. The Canadians and the Australians took Chaulnes. It is reported that both Eoye and Chaulnes have been taken. • ■ '■' NEW YORK, 10th August. iMontdidier Has been captured. LONDON, 10th August. iA, new French attack has been developed between Montdidier and Lassigny, with an advance of four miles and the capture of two thousand troops. iVon Hutier's plight is serious. • PARIS, 9th. August. It is believed that the Allied advance is greater than has beep announced, . £nd that half the total guns behind the German front have been captured. (Received August 12, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, lltrt August. The guns captured are variously estimated at from 350 to 400, including a 15-inch gun, previously' used in bombarding Amiens. The British turned it round and bombarded Ham. (Received August 12, 9 a.m.Jf LONDON, 11th August. As the result of the two days' attack on a twenty-mile front 24,000 prisoners and 300 guns have been taken. The maximum advance is_ twelve miles. The French resumed the attack at dawn on Saturday, penetrating four miles in six hours, and surrounding J.fcntdider on four sides. The field guns command the important railway junction at Chaulnes, compelling the Germans to abandon its use and depend on the roads and light railways, which.are inadequate for their needs.

The Canadian cavalry, operating near Chaulnes, report that strong enemy rearguards are covering the evacuation of the 'stores. The whole situation offers great possibilities. It is expected that the enemy will be compelled to retire to the Somme line, seven miles distant.

/ PARIS, 11th August. The Allies are steadily progressing. Foch's hatchet blows are reducing salient after salient. The French entered Montdidier towards noon, before the enemy had time to get away. Meanwhile, the Allies in the Centre, between Lihons and Faverolles, pushed on, with further great hauls of prisoners, until they were in possession of Fresnoy les Roys, three miles northward of Roye. The Americans co-operated with the British on Friday night in recapturing the Chipilly spur. Preceded by tanks and a well-timed barrage, they swiftly gained their objective, while a terrific struggle at close quarters enabled the Allies to take Morlancourt.