Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1918-08-09
Germans Extend Their Extensive
p Retreat to Third Region, Evac-
uating River Defenses.
RESISTANCE STIFFENS
Teutons Assume Defensive From
Rheims to Ypres and Withdrawal
Over Aisne River 10 Forecast
Wide Area Threatened.

Aono0nS aug. o. no 0eTnAn0
are imposing strong oppositlon TO
tho further advance Of the Allied
troops along the vesie river from
the east Of Scissors to the region
west Of Rheims. -
Meantime, however, the main
bodies Of the enemy army con-
tinue to make their way toward
the Aisne, to the north Of which
stream they hope somewhere to
reach 4 haven Of safety from the
persistent onslaught Of the Amer
lean, French, British and italian
troops, who in less than three
weeks have all but blottsd out the
9oissons- Rheims salient.
Notwithstanding tho bringing
Into play by the enemy Of large
numbers Of machine guns and ar.
tIIlery Of heavier ealiber, the en-
ploymsnt Of large number Of
picked troops, including the we'll
tried PrussIan guards and the b.
varlans, and In spite Of the fact
that the rains have sent tho vesie
out Of bounds and turned the low
lands into quasmIres, the Amor.
leans and other Allied troops have
forced crossings Of the river at
. number OF new points and on
the north side Of the stream are
engaging the enemy.
London, Aug. 8. - The Germans
weakened by the defeat suffered or
the Soissons-Rheims front, apparently
are preparing to assume the defensive
on the line from Ypres to Rheims.
Southeast of Amiens on the old
Montdidier sector the Germans have
fallen back across the Avre river over
. wide front, while northeast Of
Amiens, In the region Of Albert. 9
similar retrograde movement has been
made across the Ancre. The German
official communication in admitting the
withdrawal near Albert, declares the
maneuver was carried out without In
reference by, the British.
Yanks Take FIsmss by Storm.
Between SCISSORS and Rheims the
Yesle virtually has been cleared Of
enemy troops and Ffsmes 10 In the
hands Of the American. having bssu
carried ~ Stofsn. F1smesl was Ger
nany's great ammunition and supply
depot, midway on the railway between
scissors and Rheims.
~ French Gross Alsns.
West Of Rheims the French have
made important gains and in the 70.
gion Of Scissors the French are north
of the Aisne. The enemy resistance
apparently has been growing stronger
from Fismes east to Rheims. How.
ever. the Vesle 10 in flood and a. large
swamps line its course west Of Rheims
It IL possible the resistance may be
due to the inability OF the Germans
to move to the north bank.
Allied troops, having dattened out
the Marine pocket, have not advanced
10 rapidly during the last 4S hours.
The leading units keep In close touch
with the Germans, but 1t is probable
that heavy artillery will have to be
brought up II the Germans persist in
trying to hold at various points along
the Vesle.
Further German Retreat Seen.
THERE'S little doubt In Allied CAPT.
tails that the German crown prince
VIM retire to tho north of the Aisne.
His resistance to French pressure in
the Rheims region not unlikely is for
the purpose Of holding the Allies from
breaking through and also to prevent
them from getting between the 'vesle
and the Aisne before he can get his
troops to the northern stream.