Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-08-05
HUNSBATTLE
WITH VIC0R
T0HALTFOCH
German Resistance Stiff
fens-Floods Hinder Ad-
vance-Fismes Falls.

With the French Army in
France, Aug. >, (by the AssO-
ciated Press, 1880 p. m.)-Ger-
man resistance along the banks
of the Aisne and Vesle rivers is
growing more stubborn. Al
Lied patrols which have crossed
these rivers have met with the
sternest resistance. In the
neighbOrbOOd of MuizOn, on the
south side of the Vesle, the
Germans fought fiereely last
evening before they were forced
back. The battle was especial
Iy severe around the Vautes
farm and the adjacent woods.
On the end of the line nearest
Reims, a heavy artillery duel is
going on.
Paris, Aug. 5-French de-
tachments which crossed the
Vesle are meeting with resist
ance from the Germans, says
the official statement from the
war Office today. 1t is declared
that there is nothing of import
ance to report from the battle
front
The statement reads:
~There is nothing of import
ance to report, from the battle
front. Small French detach-
ments which crossed the Vesle
are meeting with German re-
sistance everywhere
There was a lull in the battle
along the Soissons-Reims front
last night and the breathing spell
extended into this morning. The
Germans are being favored by the
weather conditions, which have
transformed the Vesle river banks
into swamps and morasses, and they
are making a sitter stand here than
was anticipated
Fismes Captured.
Paris, Aug. 5.-The town of F1s-
mes, Germany's great storehouse
on the Aisne- Marne battle front.
has been taken by the French and
American troops, according to the
French official communication Is
sued. last evening The French al
so have crossed the Vesle at sever
al points.
Both flanks of the German forces
between Reims and Scissors ap-
pear to have been turned. The
French have forced a crossing OF
the Vesle west of Reims.
German reinforcements are re-
ported arriving in the scissors sec
tor from the north.
The allies continue their ad
vance, according to latest reports,
although it is held within prudent
limits.
The allied left wing has moved
faster than the right and further
progress in the scissors region
might expose il to a counter attack
from the enemy.
Allied forces in pursuit of the
Germans have passed through yeri-
table charnel houses, strewn with
and horses are mingled with brok-
en- down vehicles alongside of mon-
ster ammunition dumps. some par
TALLY exploded and others intact.
Bodies of Germans found in clus-
ters beyond the range of the al
lied artillery indicate that severe
punishment was inflicted on the
fleeing columns by the French,
American, and British aviators.
Cross the Aisne.
Allied troops have crossed the
Aisne at several points between
Scissor sand Venizel The Ger
man resistance is faltering on the
left wing of the allied advance.
while it is growing stubborn and
desperate on the right wing, where
the Germans still retain a foothold
on the southern bank of the VesIe.
between Champigny and JOnchery,
northwest Of Reims.
Vesle Cleared OF Foes.
(By Associated Press
Between Scissors and Reims, the
Vesle virtually has been cleared OF
enemy troops, and Fismes is in the
hands of the Americans, having
been carried by storm West OF
Reims. the French have made i'm