The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1918-08-09
ALLIES GROSS
vESLE AND A|SNE
Americans and French Take
Town of Fismes.
BIG BAG 0F PRISONERS
Number Will Thrill Allied World
When Announced, 1t Is Report
ed-Americans Alone Cap
tured S,400.

American Army on the Aisne-Marne
front-The town of Fismes was taken
late Sunday by the American troops
supported by the French.
The French are across the Vesle at
several points to the eastward, and
the line has been extended northwest
of Rheims to La Neuvillette. The Ger
mans are resisting sharply from Mui
xon to Champigny.
Fismes was taken after heavy
artillery fight that began in the middle
of the afternoon. A few Americans
had entered the town Saturday after
noon and remained there all night
They were driven out early Sunday
The Germans threw gas shells and
Bhrapnel into the southern part OF the
town, making 1t inadvisable for the
little party to remain longer.
London-The Germans have retired
to the north bank of the Vesle and
the French have effected four cross
tngs of the river, according to infor
nation received here. The Germans,
It is said, are resisting stubbornly and
lighting strong rear-guard actions.
The situation is generally considered
highly satisfactory and the indications
seem palmer that the Germans do not
intend, farther south, to make per-
manent stand on the banks of the
Aisne, but that they will retreat to the
Chemin des Danes Ridge, which is
one of the strongest positions IN
France, and for the moment will try
to hold the French while getting away
with their great accumulation Of
stores and munitions.
The Allies captured the Chemin des
Danes once, and may do SO again.
Paris-Both tanks Of the German
forces between Rheims and scissors
appear to have been turned. The
French have forced crossing of the
Vesle west of Rheims.
Allied troops have crossed the Aisne
ct several points between Scissors
and Venizel. The German 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
eoothold on the southern bank of the
Vesle between Champigny and Jonch'
cry, northwest of Rheims.
The number of prisoners captured
by the Allies during the last two days
will thrill the Allied world when an
nounced. The Vesle river, which was
flooded owing to the recent heavy
rains, has hampered the German rear
guards, which were unable to ford the
stream and had to fight for their lives.
The most Of these Germans were
killed and the rest were made prison.
era
German reinforcements are reported
arriving in the scissors sector from
the north The Allies continue their
advance according to the latest re.
ports, although it is held within pru-
dent limits. The Allied left wing has
moved faster than the right and fur.
ther progress in the scissors region
might expose it to a counter-attack
from the enemy.
Allied forces in pursuit of the Ger
mans have passed through veritable
charnel houses, strewn with the debris
Of war; Bodies of men and horses are
mingled with broken-down vehicles
alongside of monster ammunition
dumps, some partially exploded and
others intact. Bodies of Germans
found in clusters byond the range OF
the Allied artillery indicate that Sc.
we're punishment was inflicted on the
fleeing columns by the French, Amer