The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-05
GERMANS PLUNGE
BACK TO THE AISNE
French Go Through Scissors
and Continue Fighting to
the Eastward.
ALL LINES NOW BROKEN
Details Of Battle by the Hour
Told in Series of
Dispatches.
Special Gable Despafch TO THE sus.
Copyright, 1918; oil rights reserred.

CopvT1hf MS on rDhB fesefteo
LONDON, Aug. 4.--The subjoined
series Of dispatches 0iue connected
story OF the operations Uhich pre-
cipftdted the final German defeat and
retreat TO the Atsnc. ThcD also con-
tain the nctcs that the French haze
crossed the Aisnc near Scissors, and
hare taken CuDies, reaching the
heights north of the Atsne.
PARIS, Aug. 3, 9 A. M. (delayed)
detachment Of Gen. Vfllemont's chaus-
seurs reached Cathedral Square In
Scissors at o'clock Friday evening.
At Sl5 Gen. Mangin was able to tele-
phone to Paris news OF the complete
victory. His troops then were beyond
the town and fighting east.
The taking OF Scissors was the
eliminating point of series of ex-
traordnary and important events along
the battle front. The whole German de-
laying position between scissors and
Rheims had fallen and the enemy was
in full retreat northward. The Crise
valley had passed completely into
French hands~-The Allies had pushed
beyond the Nesle forest and were ad-
vancing on Fismes. Vile en- Tardenois
had been taken and a great "rearguard
battle" had ended in a defeat and
general retreat.
May Halt at the Aisne.
There seems no possibility that the
enemy will And solid line until he
reaches the Aisne. The Eesle positions
may give the opportunity OF turning
I ht,N hA 0Ql a
itself already has been reached and posi-
tons on both sides OF the Ardre pierced
at several points. The French pressing
on and the enemy rear pillars In smoke
give n clear indication OF the enemys
Immediate Intentions
The German bulletins may do their
! best to camoufiage the actual situation,
talk OF rear guard actions and or break
ing fighting contact with the French
They're badly beaten and are making
their way out of a sorry mess as best
and as quickly as they can. Unless the
enemy gets out of tho northern part OF
the line with speed he runs the risk Of
awkward experiences.
IL A. M.-The operations which re-
suited in the capture Of scissors and
| the German retreat probably will long
remain as a model for the staff schools.
The country south and southwest or
Scissors Is tricky and cut UP series
of ridges each Of which had to be turned
and each of which Is related to the
strategically neighborlng ridge Just as
these local operations were dependent
one upon the other so the general ad-
vance on the left depended on the events
on the centre and the right.
While the advance at various points
| appeared to be insignificant on the map
| the possession OF certain heights by the
French was all important and the gain
| of a kilometer Uwo-th!rds of a mile) at
| vital point after hard fighting gave
the allied command possession OF wide
| stretches of country.
Decisive Moment in Battle.
The decisive moment of the French
| attack was the capture OF Oulchy-le-
| Chateau, which brought with II almost
| logically the capture OF Fere-en-Tar-
| denois From there the positions OF the
Germans along the Crise became threat
ened and Gen, Mangin got to work both
| from the south and north from the
salient lying between Scissors. Oulchy-
| le-Chateau and Fere-en-Tardenois.
The main strength of this position
| lay in the plateau OF Hardennes. The
capture OF Villemontoire and Buzancy
and the advance through Grand Rozoy
| put the pncers around this ridge and
| determined the enemy retreat from the
| Crise The capture of Buzancy goes
to the credit of the Scotch troops. Of
whom Gen. Mangin said:
Their task was important and its
| success one Of the essential elements
! Of the plan on the left of the battle
! front. The difficulties of the ground
/ and the desperate resistance OF the en-
envy made It's accomplishment exceed
ingly difficult"
These Scottish troops, two hours after
their arrival at Scissors. were ordered
to take Buzancy. Their first attack
was checked but the next day they
pushed beyond the village church and
seized Chateau Park. French troops
fighting on the right reached a position.
which was perfect labyrinth of old
trenches and strongly held by machine
guns, but were unable to advance be-
yond. The Scottish troops had to give
ground and take defensive positions
along the western outskirts OF viii
| lage, an awkward salient which the
enemy had reason to think would be
easily carried.
! Scottish Troops Push On.
All day and all night the Scottish
troops repulsed continuous assaults of
| the enemy and on the dawn OF last
Tuesday they again advanced sweeping
everything before them. carrying the
| whole village and taking 800 prisoners.
| The capture OF Buzancy facilitated
operations against Hartennes. which
was carried on Thursday evening in
dashing style by Gen Mangin's troops.
Its fall meant the collapse OF the whole
| Fere-en- Tardenois front and the great
rear guard battle" was continued in
earnest, for yesterday morning there
already were indications that the enemy
was on the move
Vile -Tardenois was taken in the
advance along the lie Orillot valley and
also the Crise valley. As the day wore
on the enemy withdrawal became more
and more rapid. village after village
being occupied by the Allies. and before
evening the French had firmly estab-
llshed themselves on both sides OF the
Crise. The fate of Scissors was de-
cided.
p M-Iartennes was attacked on
three sides by the Franco British troops
and in spite Of spirited defense the
Germans were unable to hold II and
started falling back toward Droizy-
| Launoy.
10 A. M-The French were stream
ing down toward the Crise. Air re-
ports showed that the enemy was busy
burning stores In the rear. At noon
Gen. Mangin launched a general at
tack on the whole Of his front An hour
later the armies Of Generals Degoutte
and Berthelot. with American and Ital.
ian forces, Joined the movement and
the entire battle front from Scissors to
| Rheims famed with activity
r. mn, a.. 49,.