New-York tribune., 1918-08-03

WASHINGTON, Aug. The col
lapse of the German defensive posi-
tions just north of the Ourco, forced
by the dash of American troops in the
centre and the brilliant French and
British flank operations which fol-
lowed, is sweeping the enemy swiftly
back out Of the Aisne Marine salient.
The rush forward to-day came so
swiftly that it was difficult for army
tent of the victory. AS the situation
stood, according to reports late to-
night, however, there was strong pos
slbility that the Germans would be un-
able to hold the Vesle line, toward
which they are Fastening, and would
be driven to the heights north of the
ALsne.
To-night's official report from Paris
carried the most startling message
from the battlefield in several days
Scissors, the key of the German right
flank in the whole Aisne Marne posi-
tion, was again in French hands. At
the same time, the brief announcement
that Thillois, west of Rheims, had been
taken, showed that the jaws of the
great trap created by General Foch at
last had begun to close. What the
final result will prove TO be cannot be
forcseen at this time.
Reentry of Soissons
The reentry of scissors is note
worthy. The French were forced out
of the city, the largest on that sector
of the front in the first German as
sault on the Chemin- -des- Danes last
May Its capture by the enemy was u
long stride on the road to Paris. d
stride that was, in fact, definitely
checked only when the Germans met
American troops northwest of Chateau
Thierry weeks later and were halted
IN their tracks and hurled back To
many officials here the li.tle stretch Of
line where the first two American di-
visions came into action below the vii
lers-Cotterets Forest Will mark the
German highwater mark
or greater military significance in
to-nights report, however, is the ad-
'hhNt CS SHN ONutl Jaw VI lic trap at
Thlllois. This was taken to mean the
French are pushing jim to the north
and west OF Rheims an advance that
may well serve to force the enemy to
continue his hurried withdrawal to- the
Aisne without a chance TO stand along
the VesIe. The left flank Of his line
at the Vesle is in danger of being
turned before his forces south of that
river reach it.
II the advance Of the French on this
line continues, it may well become a
race for the Aisne with the enemy
forced TO abandon heavy material in a
desperate attempt 70 get his forces
into lire beyond the river before they
are cut off. The picture Of a struggle
70 the death between the two armies
drawn by General March recently, is
being revised sharply.
The greatest value seen by many
officials in all that has happened since
the counter blow was launched in that
a precedent Of IA victory on the West
ern front has been established II has
been fully demonstrated already that
the enemy can >be fought Extensively,
and there are many 3f<as that his pun
ishment is just beginning. General
Focb holds the initiative firmly and il
master Of the situation. He can choose
now the time and place 10 fight, for
the enemy is compelled 70 act on the
defensive and TO give ground to save
his forces from annihiiatiop.
General March has seen in the fiat
tening out Of the Aisne- Marne salient,
while the Germans were able TO hold
the Soissons and Rheims Jaws fast. the
vsnishing Of any xcasonable prospect