Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-08-05

Weakened By the defeat on the sois-
sons-Rheims front, the Germans apparent
" arc preparing 70 assume the defensive
on the front from Ypres ~ Rheims While
continuing their retirement norfhWari
toward the Aignp, the Germans have given
up good defensive positions in Picardv.
east Of Amiens. The movements north
and south Of the Sornrne have been onIv
local in character, bIt fhev are an indica-
tion that the German command is aware
of the danger Of an allied attack north of
the present battlefield
Between scissors and Rheims the Vesle
virtually has been cleared of enen1v
troops and Fisrnes. the important base IN
the center IS in the hands of the Americans,
having been carried hv storm West IF
Rheims the French have made important
gains and in the region Of scissors the
French arc north Of the Aisne
FLOODS CHICK HUN RETREAT
Enemy resistance apparently has bern
growing stronger from Fisrnes east n
Rheims However the Nesle is in food and
as large swamps line its course vest IF
Rheims. II ls possible the resistance NAV
be due 10 the inability Of the Germans 70
move % the north bank The high water
cut of many German units elsewhere and
Aftt--f 4ABtlElAb fAiAtiA biAFN HttG hAAAEtA III
hopeleSslv surrounded
Allied troops, having Aattened out II he
Marne pocket, have not advanced %
rapidly during the past As hours az II the
previous 4S. The reading units keep IN
close touch with the Germans. but il Is
probable that heavy artillery will have 70
be brought UP if the Germans persist in
trying 10 hold the Ali of at VARIOUS
points along the Vesle.
FOE MUST GO WORTH or AIsNE.
There is little doubt in allied capitals
that the German Crown Prince Will retire
10 the north 81 the AIsne His resistance
70 French pressure n the Rheims region
not unlikely s for the purpose of holding
the Allies from breaking through and also
70 prevent them from getting between the
Eesle and the Aisne before he can get ms
troops TO the northern stream.
The heights OF the Chemin des Danes
offer the most suitable defensive position.
but even this would be precarous II the
French can move forward from north OF
the Alsne in the SCISSORS region. A strong
movement here sufficient to carry the
French 70 Fort de Malmajson the western
kew 70 rhe ChemIn des Danes r1dge.
would have TO be on . more extended
10 IL.
BOCHE POSITION N PERIL
This also would threaten seriously the
enemy positions IN the salient about
Moutdidier and the line farther north in
Picardv and probably accounts for the
Withdrawals north and south Of the
>Ofnme
British troops now hold Halnei and
Dernancourt on the west bank Of the
Ancre and the Germans DOW are 70 the
east Of the river At Albert where the
Ancre divides the town the situation Is not
clear
From Mesnil-St. Georges, vest Of
Montdidier 10 Breaches. the Germans are
retiring across the Ayre. Their retrOgrade
movement already has averaged two miles
on seven mile front. The French hold
Breaches. have penetrated into HarpcCurt
and are on the outskirts OF Courteznarehe-
HUNS DEFEND ",UNP OFFS"
The movements TO the eastern bank
of the Ancre and Ayre are both defensive
in character. The Germans holding vest
OF the rivers were not very large, but large
enough to have served as Jumping off,
places in future operations. The Allies
now control the heights west OF each
stream. Military experts have called the
AWE the path 70 Aniens and the enemy
positions on the west Dauk were most
important if the drive from Amiens Was
to he continued with success.
I. 5. TROOPS TAKE 5, 400 PRISONERS.
Great quantities of ammunition and
guns have been taken by the French.
American ana British troops south OF the
Nesle and all indications are that the
German refinement WAS hasCy and due 70
the strong allied pressure All along the
front which now has been shortened 10
thirtv-two miles between SOissons and
Rheims. No additional report on tot2l Of
prisoners has been made since the middle
OF last week, but in PARIS it Is declared
that when the aggregate OF prisoners
captured IS made known, it will thrill the
allied world General Pershing reports
that American troops alone have cap
tuned S,4OO men and l3S guns.
From ArrsGs to the sea and from Rheims
70 Switzerland, the battle front has been
quiet.
In Italy, French and Italian troops
have captured three hundred prisoners m
local actions The Italians have wreSted
hill l73 on Dosso Alto IN the mountain
rppion from the enemy