Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-08-05
TROOPS NEGOTIATE
PASSAGE OF VESLE
IN RHEIMS SECTOR
Fismes, Important Railway
Town in Center of German:
Line, in Hands of Allies.
LARGE NUMBER OF ENEMY
REPORTED TAKEN PRISONER
Retreat of Crown Prince Con-
tinues Unabated, With
Foch in Pursuit.
MANY TOWNS STILL ABLAZE
Grown Prince Rupprecht Withdraws
Army Between Montdidier and
Morcuil and Near Albert.
LARGE NUMBER OF ENEMY
REPORTED TAKEN PRISONER
MANY TOWNS STILL ABLAzE
IRy Associated Press.l

tBy Associated PresS.1
The German retreat continues un-
abated. with the allies everywhere in
not pursuit
Apparently. the situation now has
resolved itself into race for the
northern bank of the Aisne River by
the Germans, who have been evicted
from strategic positions along the
Neslc River. in the center Of the line
and directly east of Rheims, which
seemingly renders necessary that they
put the Aisne between themselves and
their pursuers quickly as possible
in order to escape further large losses
OF men made prisoner.
Just how large this bag OF captives
is at present cannot be reckoned. but
unofficial adviccs from Paris assert
that when the figures are made pub
lie they will thrill the allied world
AMERICANS AND FRENCH
OCCUPY TOWN OF FISHES
After hard lighting the Americans
and Frenca have succeeded in taking
from the Germans the Important town
Of Fismes. once iGermany's great am
munition and supply depot. midway on
the railway between Scissors and
Der OF places slons the Vesle River the
French have crossed the stream. driv-
Ing the enemy northeastward. East OF
Sossons allied troops have ncsotiated
the passage OF the .,isne to the north
ern bank of that stream. where they
are in a position to harass the enemy
as he endeavors to s,raightea out his
line in conformity with that running
northwestward
So fast has been the retreat Of the
Germans in the center that already
some elements OF their fees have sue
ceeded In reaching the northern bank
ol the -Aisne ana getting numbers of
their big guns across with them All
through the salient towns are stiu
ablaze behind the retr .at.ng Germans,
and even corn fields n.ve been eet
afrc in order to prevent the allied
troops from saraering the ripened
crop.
GERMANS on VEsLE
KILLED OF CAPTURED
The lighting along the Nesle River
was OF a sansHinary character as Ions,
as II lasted. WITH thu r!rer At t-csher
ana the Gernan* unable to ford IL.
they stood with their backs to it and
gave battle for their lives. 4 ma
IoritE o! them were killed ard the
remainder were made prisoner One
OF the most important nancuvers north
Of the Ncsle was the penetration by,
the French to the village of La Neu-
villette. which releases The German
hold on the northern outskirts OF
Rheims and seemingly delivers the Gu
thedral city from the German menace
with the tiermans now thorourhly
vanquished thus far on the scissors
Rheims salient. eyes are being turned
to the regions in the northwest. or
both sides of Amiens Here the French
and British are keeping un their hard
pressure against he armies of Crown
Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria and have
forced them on two highly important
sectors TO retreat. Southeast OF
Amiens. on the old Mcntdidier sectors
the Germans have fallen back across
the .Avre River over n wide front,
while northeast of Amiens in the re
Sion Of Albert. similar rstroSradc
movement has been made across tho
Arcre. The German official communi
cation. il admitting the withdrawal
near Albert. declares the maneuvei
was carried cut without interference
by the British.
Just what bearing these new otr.n-
siHes VIII have on the fighting front
TO which the Germans ultimately re.
treat for stand in the Aisne region
cannot yet be forecast. but should the
allied troops be able to press ba>k the
line for any material gains eastward
il is not improbable that IL we ..ld
disloca'e the entire German line III
the south.
There aee has been considerable
actirib the Italian mountain front.
where at several points tho Italians
have attacked and defeated tho AUS
trians.