Norwich bulletin., 1918-08-05
CBy The Associated Press )


 The German retreat continues un- abated, with the allies everywhere in hot pursuit.
 Apparently the situation now has re- solved itself into race for the north ern bank of the Aisne river by the Germans who have been evicted from strategic positions along the Nesle river, in the center of the line and di- rectly, east of Rheims, which seeming ly renders necessary that they put the Aisne between themselves and their pursuers as quickly as possible in or der to escape further large losses of men made prisoner.
 Thousands of Germans Captured.
 Just how large this bag of captives is at present cannot be reckoned, but unofficial advices from Paris assert that when the figures are made public they will thrill the allied world. Gen. eral Pershing in his communication says the Americans alone have taken S,400 prisoners, and in addition l33 guns.
 After hard fighting the Americans and French have succeeded in taking from the Germans the important town of Fishes, once Germany's great am intuition and supply depot midway on the railway between SoissOns and Rheims. while to the east at num- Der of places along the Vesle river the French have crossed the stream, driY- ing the enemy northeastward. East of Soissons allied troops have nego- tiated the passage of the Aisne to the northern bank of that stream, where they are in a position to harass the enemy as he endeayors to straishten out his line in conformity with that running northwestward.
 Salient Towns Are AbIaze.
 So fast has been the retreat of the Germans in the center that already some elements of their forces have succeeded in reaching the northern bank of the Aisne and getting mum bers of their big guns across with them. All through the salient towns are still ablaze behind the retreatine Germans, and even cornfelds have been set afire in order to prevent thf allied troops garnering the ripeneC crop.
 Rheims is Rescued.
 The fighting along the Vesle rive1 was of a sanguinary character as lone as it lasted. With the river at freshe and the Germans unable to ford 1t they stood with their backs to it an( gave battle for their lives. A majorit. of them were killed and the remainde were made prisoner. One of the mos important manoeuvres north of tn VesIe was the penetration by tn French to the village of La Neuvillette which releases the German hold on tn northern outskirts of Rheims an seemingly delivers the cathedral cit from the German menace.
 Germans Thoroughly Vanquished.
 With the Germans now thorough vanquished thus far on the Soissons Rheims salient, eyes are being turne to the regions in the northwest on bot sides of Auiens. Here the French an British are keeping up their hard pres sure against the armies Of Crow Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria and hay forced them on two highly importaT sectors to retreat Southeast of Amien on the old hontdidier sector the Ger mans have fallen back across the AvT river over a wide front, while northeaS of Amiens, in the region of Albert, similar retrograde movement has bee made across the Ancre. The Germa official communication in admitting tf withdrawal near Albert declares tf manoeuvre was carried out withol interference by the British.
 German Line Loses.
 Just what bearing these new O fensiyes will have on the fighting fro1 to which the Germans ultimately r treat for a stand in the Aisne reSit cannot yet be forecast, but should u allied troops be able to press back u line for any material gains eastward is not improbable that it would disl cate the entire German line in u south.
 There again has been considerah activity on the Italian mountain fro1 where at several points the Italia have attacked and defeated the Au trianS. .-...