Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1918-09-05
AMERICANS ON
THE v[SLE GO
FORWARD AGAIN
Move Up Toward the Aisne
Following the Retreating Ger
mans on Whole Front
REAR GUARD ACTION ONLY
Evident That Enemy Has
Moved Stores and Supplies
Behind the Aisne
Bv Associated Press.

WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY
ON THE YESLE, Wednesday, Sept. 4
Americans with the French with
them on their left, have advanced
from the Vesle to the edge of the
plateau along a line from Brenelle,
Vauxcere, Blanzy and Baslieux. The
Germans nearest this line along
defense of any consequence are oppo-
site the edge of the plateau paralleling
the Aisne, over which It is obvious
they have removed their stores and
heavy artillery.
The advance of the Americans in
force began at o'clock this morn
ing and patrols, one after another.
have been. going over all day and
meeting sharp resistance at some
points.
After a month on the vesle, during
which they have been subjected to a
general pressure night and day by the
tightly drawn line from scissors to
Rheims, the Germans appear to be
heading straight for the Aisne and
possibly for their old position, Che
min-des Danes. 1t was unexpected.
While the pressure from the south
was insistent If not vigorous, the on
ward drive north from Scissors on TO
the western end of the plateau made
their position between the two rivers
practically untenable.
The extent to which the retreat has
gone Is not mentioned officially and
therefore cannot be told. but 1t is per-
missable to say that substantial prog
ress has been made by the Americans.
Orders reached the American COM
nIander before daylight to send out
patrols to investigate and their report
caused the. immediate dispatch Of
supporting patSols.H Before nightfall
q large part OF the enemy, which had
been. camping along the Vesle, was in
action on the slopes north of the river
and there was action Notwithstanding
that the Germans already had taken
the initiative of their withdrawal.
Once more the Germans have en-
plcyed the tactics of a. machine gun
defense and the Americans have been
taking their fire all day.
In the neighborhood of Bazoches
the Americans were advancing along
the highway north of the river while a
| little to the east they were south OF
| the river. Bazoches ard Fismette
have been disputed possessions since
the lines closed early in August and
at the beginning OF the operations TO-
day they were held by the Germans
The Americans, however. did not
worry about them this time, but ad-
vanced along the river TO opoints where
crossings had been decided upon.
Smoke arising from behind the Ger
man lines has been observed for the
past two or three days. In some in
stances the cause is known TO have
been from the explosion of an ammu-
milton dump fired by direct hit from
an allied battery. but the increasing
number of smoke columns has given
rise to the suggestion that the Ger
mans are bombing such of their de-
pots, structures and supplies as it IL
| inadvis,lble TO move. Similar meas
ures were adopted prior to the retreat
north of the Marne and ii is concluded
that the German staff is again prepar-
ing for a retrograde movement Pa
| trolls sent out early in the day report
ed that the German retreat was un-
der way.