St. John's Daily Star, 1918-08-15

              The St. John's Daily Star.  Newfoundland VOLUME IV. ($3.00 per Annum) THURSDAY, AUGUST 15,1819.  (PROBS: S. W. to W. winds; Mostll Fair) No. 178. 14-MILE ADVANCE BY ALLIES FRENCH AND AUSTRALIAN TROOPS TAKE IMPORTANT POSITIONS SUB SINKS OIL TANKER AT ENTRANCE TO NEW YORK PORT RIBE COURT IS CAPTURED French Forces Make Steady- Progress in the Advance Towards Noyon — Advance 800 Yards. HUN RESISTANCE IS STIFFENING DARIS, Aug. 14.—General Humbert's army operating on the southern end of the Picardy battle line is reported today to be progressing steadily towards Noyon. The town of Ribecourt on the road leading to Noyon and six and a quarter miles southwest of that town, has been captured by the French, according to the official statement issued tonight. The desperate German defence of the Chaulnes-Roye road has caused delay in the storming of the Noyon position, which is said to be impending. The army of General Rawlinson, which is holding the line just to the north of the position, is meeting most desperate resistance. Along the whole front the Germans seem determined to retain the Chaulnes heights at all costs. The French left advancing on Lassigny met with vigorous resistance north of St. Claude farm and north rf Mareuillanotte. However, they succeeded in fighting their way thru the woods and moving their line eight hundred yards northeast of Gury. North of Gury they reached the southern edges of Loges wood. STEADY ADVANCE IN ALLIED OFFENSIVE Entente Troops Gain Further Important Ground North and South of Somme LASSIGNY CAPTURED BY FRENCH AND AUSTRALIANS MAKE GAINS I ONDON, Aug. 14—North and south of the Somme the Germans have lost further important ground. In the former region they have evacuated their positions over a five-mile front to the British, north of Albert, while in the latter they have been beaten back in the hill and wooded districts jus' north of the Oise river by the French. German front line trenches at Beau mont Hamel, Puisieux au Mont, and Bucquoy have been found untenable by the enemy in the face of the recent activity by the British all along the line of front from Albert to Arras, while the French have persevered in their violent attacks against the Germans in that sector which dominates the lower Picardy plain and the Oise valley, have encroached further south and have captured the important town of Ribecourt. French Get Lassigny Unofficial reports have announced the capture of Lassigny by the French and of all the German positions between the western outskirts of Bray. Sur Somme and Etinhim by the Australians. Thcie is, however, no official confirmation of them. From the Somme to the Oise, except in the latter region, where the i French have made further gains, the I Germans seemingly have had further success in holding back the allied troops, and, are still in possession of Chaulnes and Roye, upon the capture of which the efforts of the British and French have been centered. On this central part of the battle- I front the enemy continues to deliver I violent counter-attacks, and also has further reinforced his line with men and guns, and is using them without stint to retain his position, realzing that their capture would spell disaster.Ready for Retreat? The giving up of front line trench■es north of Albert seemingly means that the German high command fore:ees the ultimate success of the American and British operations along ihe Somme, and is readjusting the German positions to meet any eventuality. In any event the retrograde movement seemingly indicates that the ten-mile salient between Beaumont-Hamel and Bray en the Somme, with that in the south across the rive way in order that the German front there.may come into alignment w:th that in the south acros the Somme. In fact it seems not improbable that the German's purpose is to readjust their front from the Somme to Arras and possibly further northward. The capture of Ribecourt by the French marks an important epoch in the offensive which has for its immedate purpose the freeing of the region between the Somme and the Oise of the enemy. As a gain from the strategic standpoint it ranks with the taking by the French of the forts and Hill positions between the Matz and Oise, which has brought the French almost to the gates of Lassigny. Open Way to Noyon Through Ribecourt lies an open route up the Oise valley to Noyon, a route by rail, and the big national thorofare, not to mention the canal that parallels the roadway for the greater part of the way. Noyon is only a little more than six miles north east of Ribecourt. Although they are still encountering violent resistance, the French are continuing to make progress through the wooded and hilly country between the Matz and the Oise, where the Germans from recesses in the forests, on spurs and in the canons are using machine guns innumerable. Gas also is being loosed in more quan titles by the enemy. Almost entire control of the Thiescourt plateau and the other high ground in this sector, is now in the hands of the French. Along the Vesle the Germans again have made unsuccessful attacks against the French and Americans, who are still holding their positions. In the mountain region on the west crn Italian front the Italians have j captured several important positions ■ from the Austrians. GERMAN RAIDS ARE REPULSED French Take Prisoners In a Raid In Chafpagne. Paris, Aug. 14.—Only the artillery was active during the night on certain sectors between the Ayre and the Oise, says the wax office statement today. Along the Vesle where French and American troops are stationed, the Germans made vain raids. The French took prisoners in a raid> in Champagne. The text of the statement follows: Between the Avre and the Oise there was activity by our own and the enemy artillery, notably in the sectors of Roye, Sur Matz and Conchy Les Pots. On the front of the Vesle German raids were without results. Prisoners were taken by the French during an incursion into -the German lines in the region of Mesnil Les Hurles. The night wa* calm everywhere else. ALLIES ADVANCE FOURTEEN MILES At No Point Is Enemy Within Fifty Miles of Paris. Washington, Aug. 14.—Official reports to the American government show that the allied thrusts in Picardy attained a maximum penetration of fourteen miles up to yesterday. General March, United States chief of staff, disclosed this today in his semiweekly conference with newspaper correspondents, adding that at no point is the enemy now within fifty miles of Paris. The chief of staff took occasion to urge the disuse of nickname Sammy in speaking of American troops. The term is disliked by the men themselves, he said. Nor do either the British or French understand why big strong men like the Americans should be tagged with such a nickname. The British soldiers call their American comrades Yanks. FRENCH TAKE HIGH GROUND Wrest Commanding Positions From Huns and Clean Up Many Nests of . Foe Machine Guns. FOE MAKES STAND ON HIS 1916 LINE WITH THE FRENCH ARMIES IN " FRANCE, Aug. 14 (By the A. P.)—The battle for the Thiessur area, which is going on, is only a small part of the operation in progress, and developments in other parts of the line may modify the situation before the battle is re-opened here. The Germans have had one advantage here as elsewhere, in that they have been falling back on the supplies, while the French have been obliged to bring up theirs over a difficult country. So far, General Humbert's troops have had four days o* continual fighting, fully half of which has been spent in gas-infested sectors. During all this fighting it was the machinegun against the rifle, the Germans having comparatively few infantrymen in the front line, but being plentifully supplied with machine guns , virtually one for each man and all ambushed. When the nests of quick-firers were discovered and a move against them began, this move had to be in the nature of an outflanking process, which was trying work in this rough region. Besides holding the important crests of St. Claude farm and Ecouvillon, the French have added to their captures Monolmthe, another high plateau, which commands a considerable extent of ground to the north and east From Ecouvillon the French have a good view of the Divette valley, where the Germans appear to be trying to establish a position with the aid of their old earth works which were constructed in 1916. SUBS OPERATE OFF NEW YORK Oil Tanker Sunk at Very Entrance to American Seaport. New YoTk. Aug. 14.—The Associated Press this morning carries the following: German submarines approaching the very gates of New York Harbor sank the oil tanker Frederick B. Kellogg off the Ambrose Channel last night. Thirty-five members of the crew brought here today reported that seven others are missing. These survivors were picked up by an American steamer. The Frederick B. Kellogg was a new tank ship of 4450 tons, owned by the Pan-American Petroleum and Transport Company of Los Angeles. She was bound from San Pedro, Mexico, for Boston. ■ mm* ■ A young woman of Bell Island who lived as domestic with a man at St. Joseph's, was brought to the city j yesterday on a charge of having stolen $130, the property of her em- j plover. As Mr. McCarthy, J.P., is lil today her trial did not take, oiacc. i HUNS EVACUATE FORWARD POSITIONS BEFORE HEAVY ASSAULTS OF BRITISH French Stubbornly Fight their way Forward, Against Resistance of Germans on the top of Lassigny Ridge. London, Aug. 14.—The Germans have evacuated their forward positions at Beaumont Hamel. Sere Serre, Puisieux au Mont and i Bucquoy, lying in the region north of Albert, according to Field Marshal Haig's communication issued tonight. T OX DON A;ig. 14.—There was terrific fighting to-■-' day on the top of Lassigny ridge, The Evening Standard reports, 'the French there were fighting their way stubbornly forward, and this afternoon were pushing solicilv down the far side of the elevation, the reports declared. The Germans were said to be putting up the fiercest sort of resistance, and the fighting, it was indicated, might a nay or iwo before the hill was finally cleared of the enemy. Field Marshal's Report. London, Aug. 14.—Field Marshal Haig's communication issued tonight says: Focal fighting has taken place today on the battlefront in the neighborhood of Parvillc-s. Our troops have made progress and have taken several prisoners. Following upon his recent withdrawals in the Hebulerne sector the enemy has evacuated his forward positions at Beaumont Hamcl, Serre, lJuisieux au Mont, and Bucquov. Our patrols are pushing forward in touch with the enemy, and have gained ground about these villages. A few prisoner, have been taken by us. WHERE ALLIES WILL INTERVENE Here* where the allies are going to send their military and economic aid to Russia The first step in the campaign to rid the HUNridden nation of its dissension will be the occupation of Vladivostok, shown on the map hv an army of' American. British and Japanese* soldiers. The seizure of the trans-Siberian railway win follow 50 PER CENT. DECREASE IN SHIP'S SUNK BY SUBS Losses to Neutral and AI- i lied Shipping During July j Was 270,000 Tons As ! Compared With 534,839 for July, 1917. PARIS, Aug. 14 (Havas Agency) — The allied and neutral shipping sunk by submarine; during July amounted to 270,000 tons, compared with 534,839 tons sunk in July, 1917. This radical decrease in losses is, doiibly significant when the increase in/ merchant marine navigation resulting from the American shipbuilding effort is considered. The entente nations constructed during July a tonnage in excess of j 280,000 to that destroyed during the | month by enemy operations. The entente tonnage sunk in 1917 was 50 per cent, less than that lost in 1916. NEW GAINS MADE BY HAIG'S MEN British Advance in Lys Salient and East of Meteren. London, Aug. 14.—British troops have gained further ground at the apex of the Lys saiient in Flanders, says the official statement from Field Marshal Haig today. East of Meteren the line was advanced slightly while east of Vieux Berquin, south of Neteren, patrols established a new line. 1 * mm m - The garden party in aid of the new church at Portugal Cove was held yesterday and was very successful. A large number of people from the city and other places attended and enjoyed the day very much. TWENTY-ONE PLANES DOWNED BY ALLIES American Aviators Conduct Successful Raids On Enemy Positions. I ONDON, Aug. 14.—Twenty-one German airplanes were brought down and ten driven down out of control yesterday, according to an official statement issued tonight on aviation operations. Six British machines are missing as a result of aerial encounters. British and American air squadrons co-operatecl in an attack on an enemy airdrome, and destroyed six machines parked near the hangars. Fifty-eight tons of bombs were dropped during the last 24 hours on various objectives, 21 tons by day and 37 tons by night. American Aviators Busy. Washington, A*»g- 14.—American aviators have conducted successful raids on the railroad yards at Conflans, Longuyon and Dommary BaToncourt, General Pershings reported in his communication for yesterday, which was made public tonight by the war department. PREMIER BORDEN OPENS WAR SHOW Deals With Medical Progress During Struggle of Nations. London, Aug. 14 (By Reuters, Ltd.)—Premier Borden, in opening today the exhibition of war specimens collected by the Canadian army medical corps, remarked that the British hospitals were keeping the most careful records of war cases. He was assured that these would be of the greatest service in the future to LUDENDORFF ASKED AID. Had to Use Threats, Tho, To Get Reinforcements from Austria. Geneva, Aug. 14.—Twenty divisions of troops were demanded of Germany's allies by General Ludendorff during, the retreat from the Marne, according to he Democrat, which Teceived the news from German sources. Austria-Hungary refused, but after General Ludendorff had made a threat, Vienna sent two divisions to the western front. For this reason the Austro-Swiss frontier use ri*/-<j.ii^_ THE WAR SITUATION (ByJ.T.M.) THE allies and the Hun are still at grips for possession of the keypositions of the Somme valley. As predicted in these notes a week ago, the Germans will consider no sacrifice too great to hold the line of Chaulnes, Roye and Lassigny. These positions are exactly on the old Une of defence where the Germans made their stand after the great drive of 1914 had been checked. It is admirably adapted to strong j defence, being along the high land which forms the crest of the watershed west of the Somme, from Framer\ille, eight miles south of Albert, to Ressons on the Matz river, nine miles west of Noyon, a line of about twenty-two miles. Lassigny and Fresnieres are the pivotal points on the south end of the line, Chaulnes on the north, and Roye and Lassigny in the centre. There is no doubt but the capture oi these places will be accomplished by the Allied forces now attacking them, but their reduction will mean very hard fighting and no small casualty list. But once the Germans are driven from these positions their retreat beyond the Somme becomes inevitable. The result of the loss of the Somme positions will so dent their line between Albert and their present positions on the Oise as to make the | maintenance of their front as far north as Arras, and south, to Soissons untenable. The moving back of their line on the sector between Albert and Arras would indicate some doubt in the German's mind as to their ability to maintain their present line between Albert and the Oise where a sudden break, necessitating a rapid retreat, would place in jeopardy their line between Albert and Arras. The withdrawal in that sector would appear to be a praparation for such a development Puisieux, Beaumont, Bucquoy, lie about midway between Albert and Arras. A line drawn from Arras to Albert would cut through these positions. In their rear, westward, is railway. Bapaume is only seven miles west of Puisieux. From these movements of the enemy it may be concluded that the evacuation of Albert Bray-sur-Somme, said to be in po> session of the allies, is five miles south east of Albert, and Beaumont five miles northeast. This places the city in a loop some two and a half miles deep. The pressure westward fom Bray-usr-Somme, on the north side o: the Somme, and from Proyart on the south, tends to outflank both Albert and Chaulnes at the same time and the fall of Chaulnes would appear to make Albert untenable, as it does not seem probable that the enemy could make a stand anywhere west of Peronne except for rearguard actions. With the allies in possession of Lassigny the enemy cannot long main tain his position on the Oise between Ribecourt and Noyon. Positron of Noyon Noyon is six miles due east of Lassigny, and Ribecourt an equal distance southeast. This places the enemy line in a semi-circle between Lassigny and Ribecourt, as the line runs almost south from Lassigny to the vicinity of Elincourt, thence easterly to the Oise. If the allies establish themselves at Lassigny their aitillery can shell Noyon and enfilade the German line between Elincourt and Ribecourt. But the enemy will put up a very stubborn defence along that sector because of the menace the abandonment of it will become to the German line between the Oise and Soissons.- Taking in the present alignment of the battle line from Arras to Soissons it becomes apparent that Foch's strategy has been well planned, and the execution of his plan of campaign inaugurated by the allies since the beginning of the war. Hammering the vital points of the enemy's centre between Albert and the- Oise river, while holding firmly on. both wings, hte places 75 miles of the enemy defence line in jeopardy. A break thru at Chaulnes; Roye and Lassigny will make the realignment of the German line as far north as Arras and as far south as Soissons inevitable. It is quite probable that before the present drive is permanently checked we shall be hearing the old familiar names of Monchy, Croisilles. Ba- , paume, Grandcourt, Martinpuich, Thiepval, Peronne, La Fere and Laon which will bring the German, iiont |lll!l!!llillill!llllllllllllllllllllll!llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll!llllllllllllllll>| j GENTS FURNISHINOS. I | English QUIDTQ 1 | & American UN!III 0 | | Soft Bosom Single and Double Cuff, j Prices 1.18, 1.30, 1.45, 1.50, 1.70 1 I 2.00, 2.50 Each. Al Value. |j A Special Line Cream and White j| g Mercerised, Worth 1.50 for 1.30. j= | A SNAP. 1 | and Soft uULLAIIU | | For Men and Boys. § s A Big Assortment, all Shapes & Styles. || All the Newest & Latest in | GENTS TlfQ | | Plain & Fancy lILU | ] MANY DIFFERENT SHADES. | H 30c, 45c, 65c, 75c, $1.00 Each. I See the NEAT LITTLE BRAID TIE I and CELLULOID FRAME, Only $1.50 per doz. 15 c each = 1 Also other makes in HOOK-ON or || EVERREADY, $1,75 per Dozen, ||/ 17c Each. |Bowring Bros., Ltd.) liiliiiiiiiliuim'iiiiliiM^