Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-08-03
WESTERN ANCHOR !
OF CROWN PRINCE
IN ALLIED HANDS
Foch's Big Guns Dominate
Plains Behind Northwest
ern Portion of Front.
GERMANS MAY RETREAT
NORTH OF AISNE RIVER
Soldiers of Allies Occupy Many
Towns and Viii
lagos.
HARASS ENEMY EyERYWHERE
Americans Meet With Almost No
Opposition in Attacks on
Teutor Lines.
HARAss ENEMY EvERYwHERE
LBv Associa.sd Rressl

by Associated Press.1
The crisis in the allied offensive On
the Scissors Rheim salient apparent
ly has been reached.
French troops have entered the town
of Soissons, the western anchor point
OF what remains OF the famous saliart,
and all along the thirty. six miles of
curvinG battle line from Soissons to
Thllois. which lies about three milcs
west OF Rheims, French. American ard
British troops have pushed in The en-
tire enemy front and sent the Germans
backward everywhere in precipitata
retreat. Over the battle front tie AZ
lies 10y quick and forcible methods
of onslaught. have deeply ,ndcnted tile
German defense line for splendid gains.
which seemingly foreshadow the ne
cessity of the eventual retirement OF
the forces OF the German Crown Prince
to more tenable ground in, thes-north,
The plains behind 'tha northwestern
portion of the battle front. now arc en-
tirely dominated by the allied big guns.
In tho south the French and Ameri-
cans have negotiated almost all OF the
hill and forest country and are on
croachins percepiiblS to The Fts,ncs
railway. while on the east the Brit
ish and French are also astriGe the
Rheims -Soissons railway aud have
their guns now so placed thai the
enemy is sure TO be sorely tried rs
he tries to press back and gam haven
of refuge along the Nesle River.
Just how far the retreat of the Ger
mans will go cannot At present be
forecast. nut with The southern line
swinging northward in conjunction
with that on the cast toward tire Nesle,
and with tie French dominating the
Aisnc eastward from Sossons. Il IS
not improbable that tho Germans may
be compelled TO take refuge north OF
the AiSne.
ALLIES ADVANCE THREE
MILES IN SOME PLACES
Numerous towns and hamlets hsvA
been captured bY the allied ,roopS
during the latest lighting. and at some
points they nave advanced from two
to three miles. South of Soiss sons. the
entire Crisc River has been forded by
the allied troops. northeast OF Fele-
cn .Tardenois the allied line has been
pushed we'll TO tie west o: the IHGrH
cf Grand RozoS and the town of Sa5
roray has been taken. III the center
the NeSles wood Is being swept cieah
% Germans by tho Fronch cavalry. am
American and Erench troops are press.
ins tic Germans hard north Of SetcS
and the hamlet of Nes!es.
Further eastward. almost to the
gates of Rheims, combined forces o.
British and French everywhere are
sorely harassing the enemy. In this
latter region. in addition to Thillois.
the village of Ville-enTardenos is in
allied hands. and the French now are
on the heels of the Germans two and
a half miles north OF the Dormans-
Rheims highroad over 4 front OF nearly
four miles.
ENTIRE SALIENT MAY DE
CLEARED OF ENEMY
Altogether, viewed from the war
maps. the situation for the allied
troops at present is most promising
one for complete success in riddinS
the Scissor Rheims salient entirely of
the enemy.
Throughout the latter phases OF the
battles the Germans have not shown
their stamina of previous days, and
a, some points the allied troops. par
ticularly the Americans, were enabled
to make their way into German posi-
tions with virtually no opposition be-
ing imposed
SMOKE OF BURNING
TOWNS BEHIND GERMAN LINES
All behind the battle line the smoke
OF burning towns is visible. which.
seemingly, would give weight TO the
prevailing belief In the allied capitals
that the Germans at present are no.
where near the end of their retreat
Aside from the So!ssons- Rheims
salient there has been little hght!ng
in any of the war theaters The Brit
ish are continuing their raids on the
Germans in France and Flanders. and
the Germans at last accounts were
heavily bombarding the British south
OF tho Somme and near Ypres