Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-08-03
GERMAN ARMIES
 NEARING THEIR
 BIGGtSI DEFEAT Collapse of Grown Prince $ Defense Means His Force
 Is Weakening. GEN. HAIG MAY
 START BIG DRIVE American Officers in Washington Be. lieye Foch Will Order Britons
 to Strike Gigantic Blow

of the German defensive positions just north of the Ourcq, forced by the dash of American troops in the cen- ter and the brilliant French and Brit lsh flank operation which it followed, is sweeping the enemy swiftly back of the Aisne- Marne salient.
 The rush forward today came so swiftly that it was difficult for army officials here to appraise the full ex-- tent of the victory.
 As the situation stood, according to reports late tonight, however, there was strong possibility that the Germans would be unable to hold the Vesle line, toward which they are hastening and would be driven to the heights north of the Aisne.
 Pincer Is Closing.
 Tonights official report from Par is carried the most startling message from the battlefield in several days. Soissons, the key of the German right flank in the whole Aisne- -Marne posi- tion was re-entered by the French.
 At the same time, the Brief announ- cement that Thillois, west of Rheims, had been taken, showed that the jaws of the great trap creatd by General Foch at last had begun to close.
 What the final result will prove to be cannot be foreseen at this time.
 The re-entry of Soissons is note worthy. The Trench were forced out of the city, the largest on that sector of the front, in the first German as- cault in the Chemis Des Danes last May.
 It's capture by the enemy was a long stride on the road to Paris, a stride that was in fact definitely checked only when the Germans met American troops northwest of Chat eau Thierry weeks later and were halted in their tracks and hurled back.
 Americans Stopped Hun Tide.
 To many officials here the little stretch of line where the first two American divisions came into action below the Villers-F Fctteretes forest will mark the German high water mark.
 Of greater military significane in tonight's report however is the ad- vance of the other jaw of the trap at Thillois.
 This was taken to mean the French are pushing in to the north and west of Rheims an advance that may we'll serve to force the enemy to continue his hurried withdrawal to the Aisne without a chance to stand along the Vesle.
 The left flank of his line at the Vesle is in danger of being turned before his forces south fthat river reach it.
 If the advance of the French on this line continues it may we'll be- come race for the Aisne with the enemy forced to abandon heavy ma terial in a desperate attempt to get his forces into line beyond the river before they are cut off.
 Precedent of Victory.
 The picture of struggle to 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 it that precedent of victory on the western front has established.
 It has been fully deemed already the enemy can be fought extensively and there are many signs that his punishment is just beginning. General Foch holds the initiative and is mas ter of the situation.
 He can choose now the time and place to fight for the enemy is com pelled to act on the defensive and to give ground to save his forces from annihilation.
 General March has seen in the flat tening out of the Aisne Marne sal tent which the Germans were able to hold the Soissons and Rheims jaws, the vanishing of any reasonable pros pect of bagging the German armies. Other officials have had deep feeling however that the Germans would not escape fro mthat salient without serious losses and tonight's development added to their uncer- tainty. There are renewed possibili- ties of coup of decisive character it is believed.
 Briton's May Strike Blow. :. Among many officers there is 2 Continued on page three, Col. 1