The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-08-03
GERMANS FLEEING NORT1WARD
AFTER THE FALL OF SOISSONS
AMERICAN ATTACK
PAVED THE WAY

While the German crown prince
made strong efforts to maintain a
front between Fere, SEN -Tardenois
and Ville-en- -Tardenois, his posi-
tion was made untenable by the
allied successes of earlier in the
week in which the Americans
played no small part. His center
was smashed at a vital point and
the southern end of the western
flank was turned by French and
British capture of the Chalmont
spur northeast of Fere.
Retreat was inevitable with al
lied pressure giving no sign of let
ting up. So, the allies are moving
northward along the whole front,
capturing guns and material and
probably many prisoners cut off in
the valleys and woods which fill
the terrain between the Aisne and
the Marne.
Fismes, the main German base
on the Vesle, is six miles north of
Moine wood, through which French
cavalry are reported to have pene-
trated. Large fires have been seen
at various points within the Ger
man lines, especially near Fismes.
Heavy explosions also have been
heard, indicating the Germans are
preparing to fall back still farther
north.
Southeast of Scissors the French
and British have been advancing
against more or less opposition.
The French and Americans in the
center are reported to have met
with slight German resistance aft.
er the stubborn fighting of pre-
yious days in the region of Fere.
Southwest of Rheims the advance
also has been slower than in the
center.
The fall of scissors, which had
been in the hands of the Germans
since May 20, is a serious menace
to the line of the Yesle and even
to the line of the Aisne, as the
French also have moved forward
three miles on the north bank Of
the Aisne TO Pommiers. At no
place are the troops of General
Mangin, General Degoutte and
General Berthelot more than seven
miles from the railway line paral-
leling the Vesle and allied guns
are hammering it hard on the ends
and probably In the center
In the first battle Of the Marne
the Germans found tenable posi-
tion between the Aisne and the
heights of the Chemin des Danes.
From present indications il is not
unlikely General Foeh can drive
them back at least that far this
time. The elimination of the
fanks apparently does away with
any hope of capturing any great
portion of the German force, as
seemed likely two weeks ago. The
Marine salient probably will be
blotted out and the German de-
fense in the west seriously weak
ened. Most important has been
the number of German divisions
used up in the fighting and which
has not ended.
"Desultory fighting" is the way
in which Berlin officially described
the present situation. The Ger
man war office declares that in the
fighting of Thursday, which paved
the way for the present advance,
the allies were repulsed.
Elsewhere on the western front
and in Italy and Macedonia there
has been no change in the situa.
tion. Aerial activity on the Brit.
ish front continues intense.
Admiral Won Holtzendorff, who
several days ago apologized for
the failure of the submarines to
stop the flow of American troops
to France, has been retired as chief
Of the German admiralty staff. His
place is taken by Admiral Scheer,
commander Of the battle feet,