davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1918-08-04
German Retreat Visible for Miles
To Naked Eyes ofAWed Observers

to take long to clear the country in
the eastern angle of the Ardre.
Here the supreme questions are:
What has brought the retreat about,
and what will come of it?
1T looks to me as if this swift with
drawal was of planned intention as
soon as our advance had reached GER
tain points, that the orders for it had
been issued some time ago and that it
was merely part of and will in nowse
affect the German strategy That it is
strategy of beaten side is unquestion-
able, just IS was the retreat to the
Hlndenburg line. But that was differ
tactical reverses.
New Stand Likely Soon
IL regard this last phase Of the re-
treat, as well as its earlier manifesto
tions. as part of clever and more or
less orderly withdrawal to q prepared
position, and when that position is
reached, we will find further acquisition
Of ground very difficult matter.
Il have spoken of the encmy's re-
treat as orderly so far as have seen
it. but he is still abandoning vast guam
titles Of ammunition and he is not
burying his dead. or at least he is
leaving great number of them uA-
buried. He may elsewhere be leaving
his guns behind, but in front of us he
mas SO few that he ought to be able to
make off with them.
"Our line is reported to be every
whore in pursuit, and that has cheer
full sound on this anniversary of our
great decision"
The present Allied progress in the
Marne salient is due to the strategy of
General P6tain, which can now be ap-
Yreciated says the correspondent By
centre, the best German divisions were
drawn there The French commander
then prepared for an attack upon the
far more important region along the
western flank south of Soissons.
The "Frankfurter zcitung," he adds.
"has stated that the Germans were go
ing to hold their lines opposite the
Americans and that the Germans had
reached strong positions suitable to q
shall see. Doubtless the enemy made
himself secure in the two great woods
north of Ferc, but there are other
ways Of clearing them out than by
driving our heads against mis- barbed
wire Thursday he may have heard the
gure creeping up on his right toward
Cramailo with no little foreboding.
"The intense heat and cloudlcss sky
have given place to rain and clouds
which no aircraft can penetrate so
that his beaten troops may obtain a
rcs!ite. But crystallization which
can crumblc to the extent of two miles
in q day does not look stable. Mean
while the Amer cans continue to ad-
Vance, which is a way they have when
they once get started.
"Cierges and all its. gas is in their
possession. and they have hold on
the hills north and northeast of It,
The Germans had their strong places
here, which had made the advance
SO dfticu t. A little further progress
in the same direction made the enemy
find his occupation on Meuniere Wood
becoming hopelcssly insecure. He not
only had the Americans on his right
flank. but must have been becoming
seriously concerned regarding the
progress Of another force which was
approaching from the southeast"
New-York tribune., 1918-08-04
French Push 5L2 Miles Down Aisne;
Fisnaes andNearby Villages in Flames

LONDON, Aug. 3.-The French, after
completing the capture Of scissors. &C.
cupied the south bank of the Aisne be-
tween Pommiers and Venizel, distance
of approximately five and half miles,
advices received to-day show.
On the northern end of the plateau,
TO the southeast of scissors, the French
have advanced from Venizel to a point
south Of Braine, on the Vesle. The
advance is continuing on the line fur
ther 10 the east.
On the easte.,y side of the Scissors
Rheims front the line to which the
Allies have advanced runs. according to
the latest advices, from Serzy-et-Prin
and Savigny, both in the Ardro Valley,
TO the highest point on the plateau be-
tween the Ardre and the Nesle. and
thence TO Rosnay, Gueux and Thillois
and on to the Vesle at St. Brice, which
is on the original line.
French cavalry are on the Vcsle River
between Champigny and Jonchery, north
New-York tribune., 1918-08-04
American Strength
Beginning to Tell,
Londor's Comment

LONDON, Aug 3.-The advance of
the entire Allied line in the Soissons-
Rheims salient is commented on here
with elation, although not without re-
rinders that the Allies still have u
long way to go. Official and other dis
patches are regarded as revealing a
tran formed siJuatic2. coinciding with
the arrival Of American detachmcnts so
strong as to give the Allies a numerical
advantage IN reserves, and justitying
high hope for the future.
The altered situation is attributed to
the main facts, namely. that the Amcri-
can streng h is beginning TO tell With
great effect, and that the Allies are
reaping an increasing advantage from
unity of command. General Foch's skill
receives many tributes. but none
warmer than tnat gwen N a speech al
Belfast by Viscount French, former
British commander in France. who de-
scrbes General Noch as the finest sol
der the war had produced. adding:
lie has given an exhibition of mill
tary genius which probably will cause
ms name TO rank in history among
hose Of tho worlds greatest com
manders."
The newspapers devote much space
to the anniversary Of Great Brtain's 5
entry into the war and the preparations
for the service of commemoration anr
intcrccs ion on Sunday, for which the
immediate outlook on the front has
furnished setting Of hopeful conf
dcrce that u little while ago would
have seemed much too sangu.ne. Com.
menting on the anniversary. "The
Times" says:
1--WE are passing through a period Of
uphcaVal which may be more pregnan;
ylth GOOD or evil than the French Rev
olution, the rice Of Islam or the down.
fall Of the Rofian Empire. The
new lenVcn Is working In ell Allind d.
New-York tribune., 1918-08-04
Pershing Gets Cross
OF Legion of Honor

PARIS, Aug. 3.-Gencral John j.
Pcrshing, commander-in- n-chief of the
American Expeditionary Forces in
France, was to-day awarded the
Grand Cross of the Legion OF Honor
by the French government.
Premier Clemcnceau sent the fol-
lowing telegram to General Perish
ing:
II take great pleasure IN inform
ing you, my dear general, that the
government Of the French Republic
has decided to confer upon you the
dignity of the Red Cross of the
Legion Of Honor. The government
desires to recognize by this distinc-
tlcn the eminent qua tiles that you
have displayed and the remarkable
services rendered by you in or
ganizing so promptly and efficiently
the American forces in France.
France shall never forget that 1t
was at moment when the struggle
was most bitter that your splendid
troops came to add their efforts to
ours. This cross shall be the SYM
boI of our gratitude"
New-York tribune., 1918-08-04

Coulonges were passed at bound. The
forest Of Nes.es was cleaned out and
the Dole Wood entered. Arcy Wood
was but mouthful. On the west the
troops carried on to Mast ct Violaine,
Chacrise and Septmonts. BY mid-after-
noon the Allies were established solid
ly on the heights on both SIDES of the
Crise; that is 20 say, south and south
east Of Soissons
The fall Of Scissors, which the
Germans were obliged to evacuate. ir-
reyocaby decided the fate of the
battle. 1t was the pivot of the whole
German line. Even admitting that the
German left could cling to the narrow
p ain between tie Nesle end the Aisnc,
the right wing could not have re-
mained in the air, as it's only supports
are the scissors plateau and the near
est spurs Of the famous Chemin- des-
Danes,
Thus, it is held here, the situation
will revert to where it was at the end
Of September, 1914
New-York tribune., 1918-08-04

from Sermoise to the north is now
dominated by the Allied guns.
The broad field covered by the ad-
vance to-day includes at least fifty
small towns and villages,
Information reaching the American
army commanders indicates that the
Germans arc engaged in removing as
large part Of their supplies from
tismes as possible. Smoke clouds and
detonatlons confirm information
gained Friday, that large quantities of
ammunition are being destroyed. At
different places behind the German
lines the effects of the destruction Of
ammunition could be seen o-day.
1T is not anticipated that the Ger
mans will give up the advantageous
terrain along the Vesle without re-
newal Of the struggle
Aug. 2 (ll p. m.).-Much importance
New-York tribune., 1918-08-04

is attached to the advance of the Allied
forces on the easterly side Of the Sois-
sons Rheims front 70 the line of Gueux
and Thillois. 1t is pointed to as serv-
ing the double object of protecting
Rheims and placing the Allies in po-
sition to cripple still further the al
ready badly crowded Germans in their
retreat toward the Vesle.
The northward movement Of the Ger
mans has now reached such point
that the reopenihg Of the Chalons-
Rheims railroad is assured.
The news received tonight that Sois-
sons had been entered was greeted
with rejoicing by che French and
Americans on the line to the southeast,
who felt confident that their own line
would be pushed forward and straight
ened out speedily on the front to the
north of Coulongcs and Arcy-St. Res
tltue.
New-York tribune., 1918-08-04
Paris Now Expects
Enemy to Retreat to
Che171ira des Danes

PARlS, Aug. 3.-The latest news
from the Soissons- Rheims front snuws
that the Entente Allied victory is grow
ing swiftly in magnitude. 1t is signifi-
cant that Paris refrains from exulta-
ton, but watches with feverish in crest
for every scrap Of news, having learned
that the pr,gress Of events always is
munlcaUOnS,
Particular significance is attributed
by commcnta. .ors 10 The CruniDllng Of
the r,gnO pivot Of the German posillons
IN INC region Of Solssons winch upena
up great posSlDlllIcs and provOKcs
speculation as 10 where the Germans
wAti be abe to reorganlzc their de-
fences
he comment generally dwel!s on the
fact that tnls is d real entente Vlc,0ry
wioh French and Scotch torccs under
General Mangin. with Americans under
General DcxUuLte and with English and
French troops under General 5cr,heiot
Military critics now look for the re-
tiremcnt Of the German crown prince
to the Chcmin des DANES, where ne
probably VIII cndeavor TO ree5tab.ish
his ilne.
fridays splendid success is but
link in the chain OF victories
which have followed one after the
otAcr since General Foch Launched d
ms countcr oftenslvc, on July Is. Rare
ly in war has plan been followed out
with such c!ockwork regularity. Mill
tary opinion here unitcs in admiration
OF the genus which conceived it and
of the mastery WaV IN which it is
being carried out. I he Allied victory
io hni al
to the first victory of the Marine in
strategic Importance.
That the consequence Of yesterday s
victory will be tarreaching already
appears certain to the commentators
I he enemy cannot ho.d the Vcsle line
it is believed, but must rccross the
Aisne, since, by the rccapture of
Seasons, the Allied forces are able to
ucbouch on both sides of the river and
take him in the rear. The enemy ap-
pears to be perfectly aware of this
and also Of the necessity Of getting
out quickly if he wishes to avoid un-
I pleasant accidents. Ir accordance with
! practlce, he already has set fire to the
/ bases at Fismes and Braisnes and Il
dozen other villages. The smoke which
! picrces the horizon is believed to show
| that the enemy knows he can no Longer
use these places.
The German retreat began Friday
morning after the fall Of the Tarle
nois line, brought about by the storm
ing Of the llartennes plateau by the
troops Of General Mangin the night be-
fore. General Berthelot, on the cast
entered Vil!eenTardenois and I'D
vanced on both sides Of the Ardre Val
! Icy. The Americans in the centre
marched toward the Vesle down the
! Orillon Valley, whi!e from IIartennes
/ the French dcbouchcd into the Crise
Valley, taking in the rear the prcvi-
ously unassai!able rodoubt Of Buzancy
Little by little the movement quick
cred. The Dormans- Rheims road was
lcft three miles behind, and Qucux
Polly. Vcziily, Gou$sancourt and
New-York tribune., 1918-08-04

LONDON, Aug. 3.-Reuter's corre-
spondent at American headqua rters
sent the following dispatch to-day:
'To-day an extraordinary spectacle
meets the eye. The entire German
salient line has given way with snap
like that of a string that has broken.
yesterday, before the last deluge of
rain had robed the country with q
thick white mist, it was possible actu
ally to observe the German retreat
With the naked eye-a thing of ex
tremely rare occurrence. A man could
be seen dodging out of q house with a
machine gun over his shoulder and
another loading his mule with ammu-
milton. A third, who seemed to be an
officer. was supervising the destruction
of some sort of dump
Small groups, coming out of their
bilets, formed n the roadway and
marched off with their arms at the
slope. 1t was all very orderly and
leisurely, though perhaps not as leis-
urely as it looked.
Retreat Is Orderly
"There seemed no suggestion of dis
order, still less of rout. Yet this sort
tire forty miles of front between Sois-
sons and Rheims, save that in places
the roar and smoke of guns was ob!lt-
Grating the quiet cinema effect of the
scene before US.
There was smoke. indeed. Huge
black, bulging pillars of it, like mirac-
ulously created towers of Babel, sud
denly appeared with thundcrous up
roar here and there about the sodden
!, ! 1 ~,
dump went up to heaven, q splendid
sacrifice to the god of battles. and It's
dark pail spread and sank to the rain
swept earth.
"Not that there had been no fight
ing. There had been plenty of fighting
hard fghting-on the round headed
Hill between Cierges and Coulonges--
sighting that gave every prospect of
continuing, when suddenly the tension
snapped, and the Germans were in
retreat.
Break in Line Assured
The crushing pressure Of Petain's
troops about those of the Crown Prince
had been so admirably timed that if
the salient had not broken in one place
il would have in another. scissors,
for example, the fall of which yester-
dav came as so joyous a surprise. had
been undermined by the most gallant
capture of BuZancy by the famous
Scottish division on July 30--an ex-
ploit that won General Mangin's enthu-
sisfstic approval.
with the enemy's abandonment of
the heights above the Crisc River
scissors became ripe fruit that might
fall at any moment, and though there
was fierce fighting BY the troops that
passed through II yesterday the mere
possession of the town is not Of great
moment. II is the ground about it
which constitutes the pivot of the
maneuvre, which may have vital con-
sequences on the new German line Of
resistance.
All Eyes or Outcome
con the east the salient has been
broken also, il not quite so badly. The
pushing forward of the line between
Goussancourt and VilleenTarde nois
has not the significance of our gains
elsewhere But with Coulonges in our
hands and no sign so far of the Ger
mans standing beyond it. it ought not
New-York tribune., 1918-08-04

steady Improvement IN the Allied
general position though there are
almost certain to be many disap-
pointments and temporary setbacks,
for the enemy is wonderfully
strong defensive fighter, as he has
shown at the Somme, the Narne and
IN the early days in Russia.
Many believe Ludendorff will try
for spectacular coup at an early
date in an effort to recuperate his
losses and prestige, but such a move
W Il necessarily be limited IN scale.
On land ard at sea Allied prospects
grow brighter with every day, al
though the civilian as we'll as the
soldier and the sailor realizes that
there is much hard fighting still
ahead.
New-York tribune., 1918-08-04

and northwest of Rheims. Up till II
o'clock this morning the Allies had not
crossed the river at any point. All the
bridges over the Vesle have been de-
stroyed.
Burning villages in the area north Of
the Vesle River, between Muzon and St.
Thierry, indicate that further with
drawal of the German forces is intend
ed. Fourteen large fires have been OBJ
served. The important centre Of Fismes
is in flames and there are great con-
fagrations in two villages to the north
west of that town.
The retirement Of the forces of the
German Crown Prince now appears 10
be of a very rapid character.
There has not been great deal Of
fighting. certainly not in the area south
east of scissors. and it Is unlikely that
any large captures of prisoners will be
reported.
To the east of Rheims French forces
have made an i'm nortant recovery of
ground near st. Hilaire.
New-York tribune., 1918-08-04

mocracies and toward similar results
Al Amer ca the results have been
the clcarcst and most immediate. Her
people have risen to the height Of her
dcstiniea, and IN so r.sing have realized
tor themselves that Germany has made
them nation as she has made us an
empire, IN a truer ana larger sense
than before. The development
OF a new sense of Americas s duty to hu-
manlly in the mind and conscience OF
her people has been lmmeasurably the
mos: momcntous event OF he four h
Year of the war, and may be by far the
most mNmoutouS OF nnr tines y.
New-York tribune., 1918-08-04
Haig Says Foe Has Failed


In the neighborhood of Rheims
the Germans are back in their orig
inal line. Sir Douglas Haig voices
the general military opinion when
he states in his special order to his
troops that "the enemy has made his
effort to obtain decision on the
Western front and he has failed"
Americans have reason to feel proud
in reading his next sentence, The
5teady stream of American troops
arriving in France has alreG.ly re-
stored the balance"
Henceforth there should be a
New-York tribune., 1918-08-04

the Vesle, the writer of the review con-
siders, cannot be an easy matter for
him, as the only good road available
passes through Coulognes, which the
Allies captured yesterday.
Fismcs Under Allied Guns
The Allied guns, the review points
out, are now within range of Bazoches,
where the only railway connection from
the north crosses the Vese into the
salient. They also command Fismes,
which was the main storehvuse for tho
German offensive, while Braisne, be-
tween Bazoches and Scissors, through
which the main road out Of the salient
passes, is also exposed to guniire
Hence, the expects are now proph esyng
that the withdrawal will continue over
the Aisne
New-York tribune., 1918-08-04
German Soldiers
Are Tired of War,
Says Boche Sergeant
by The AssOctated Press

WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY ON
THE AlSNt-MAkNE FRONT, Aug =
--Gernan soldiers generally welcome
the news that more American soldiers
are arriving in France, believing that
the faster the Americans arrive the
sooner there will be decisive battle
or definite peace move. according to
sergeant of the lth Prusslun Guards
Division, who was c~puured by the
Americans near Sergy.
The prisoner told the CORRESPONDENT
that the German sold .4rs were tired OF
the war. and also that the poorer classes
IN Germany had had suite 4ent war, ana
they believe now that Germany j
bound to lose. The capitalists, how.
ever, insist on continuing the war at
all costs.
German officers" the prisoner said
"lniormed us months ago that the
AMERICANS we've taking few prisoners
and thAt those taken were treated in
humanity. They kept warning u con
stantly that death was preferable to
not All the German sold .ers believed
''e-"-e rhe h. III regard in which
officers are supposed to be held.
~..o a. -~....n so.uIers it was
cDinAon talh that II any one of them
had good chance to be taken prisoner
in the hands of the Americans he would
40 so, nrovdmg he wa Reasonably Ger.
tam that he could pretend he was not
altogether to blame. 50, generally
among ,he Germans who have been in
"afe have been
many are eagerly watching for an op-
The sergeant said the officers never
TOLD them The truth when there was to
be a German offensive. The officers got
The soldiers nerved for IA fight by in
forming them the Allies were about to
launch an attack. and then at the
proper time they would order their own
nivn forward.
There is no danger Of revolution
among the German soldiers, he con-
tinued, so long as they are we'll fed
He said the German soldiers had meat
mostly IN the form OF stew, every day.
ut the poorer classes Mt home had only
three quarters of pound a week. Gen
orally speaking, the soldiers had
enough to cat, but no luxuries.
New-York tribune., 1918-08-04
The Official Statements
FRENCH

PARIS NGiIT).Durng the Of the driving
kilometres hrtyou the Vesl
and
East of Fsmes CourvIc
Courceles and
and
kilometres
milesl.
PARIS DAYDuring the night the continued their
the left Aisne
and Venzel
New-York tribune., 1918-08-04
f rench Find Arnaoyed
Cor Equal to Nesv
ARM OF the Service
tBy The Associated Press !,

ON THE FRENCH FRONT IN
Friday, Aug. 2.-The French
armored car has taken such an i'm
portant part in recent operations that
1t may really be called new arm
Of the service. French tacticians
have worked out method of employ
ing them so that these armored cars
New-York tribune., 1918-08-04
Report $50 Germans Killed
BY Munitions Explosions

AMSTERDAM. Aug. 3-A number Of
German powder stores have recently
blown up owing to the defective quality
Of the explosives, according to the
Eel o Beige"
In one explosion at Mons fifty Ger.
mans were killed, and lJ9 were killed
when muntion train blew UP.
New-York tribune., 1918-08-04
French Get Revenge

The French, like the Italians on
the Piave, have had their revenge.
Foch's counter stroke has reaped
big rewards, and the best Luden-
dorff had offered ended in disastrous
failure. French, British, Ameri-
cans, Italians have humbled the
heir to the Hohenzollern dynasty as
never before, and the failure of
Verdun has been capped by the dis
aster Of the Marne.
1t is happy turn Of the wheel
which brings Foch's fighters to the
Aisne on the eve of the fifth year Of
the war and finds Ludendcrtf's great
army completely on the defensive.
The tides are running strongly in
the Allies favor at the moment, but
it is wise to guard against overcon-
tidence lest disappointment follow
New-York tribune., 1918-08-04
The Great War-146Oth Day

tween oUU,UUU and 400. .UOU. lhe
Germans have used seventy-two di-
visions in the Soissons- Massiges of
fensive, eleven of which were drawn
from Prince Rupprecht's army.
Eight of these have been used twice.
Army Deteriorating
According to military estimate,
more optimistic than the one usually
given, it is said that the German
numerical superiority on the West
ern front is now very slight. 1t is
also affirmed that the bulk of the
army has deteriorated greatly, hay
ing been skinned so often for storm
troops that only poor material is left,
while the flower Of the storm troops
are either dead, wounded or pris-
oners.
These arguments le.d additional
support to the policy of a continuous
offensive activity by the Allies in
order to endeavor to break complete
ly the German morale before winter.
Foch Reaches Aisne
Close at the heels Of the Crown
Princes army, Foch's men have
come to the southern slopes of the
heights north of the Aisne, along
which Ludendorf determined upon
setting up his line Of defence fol-
lowing the retreat which began a
fortnight back. Having been forced
to abandon scissors, the key to the
Marne triangle, the Grown Prince
had no alternative but to fall back
on the Aisne plateau.
The Vesle, which offered no oppo-
sition to the Germans when tney
flowed down from the Aisne heights
last May, provided no defence when
the tide turned against them, and
tonight the bulk of the Grown
Princes broken, humiliated army
rests at Chemin des Danes, the
scene of such violent fighting during
| the last two years.
New-York tribune., 1918-08-04
BRITISH

LONDON MGH)Ihe made by patrols Albert
held by the River
followed closely
which had previously Observed number his been
found his abandoned
by machine fire this of Robecq
LONDON (DAYA yesterday
neghborhod rcpuscd
The hostile artillery
and Bail