The sun., 1918-09-06
YANKS FAST PURSUE
RETREATINC ENEMY
Germans Apparently Haze
Crossed the Aisne.
By the Associated Press.

WITH THE AMERICAN FORCES NORTH
OF THE VEsLE, Sept. 1.-THE American
forces following up the German retreat
from the Vesle moved steadily over the
plateau between the Vesle and the Aisne
to-day and by noon their advanced ele-
ments had filtered into the slopes on the
northern side OF the plateau.
Violent explosions were heard along
the line this morning. Observers re-
ported that they believed the Germans
were destroying their ammunition dumps.
An aviator reported a terrific explo-
sion at 3 o'clock at Praueres
on the south bank of the river Aisne,
directly north OF Fismes. Other explo-
sions took place in the same region dur
ing the morning.
Bazoches and Fismette were occu-
pied by the Americans during the night
These towns had been evacuated by the
Germans. only two OF three wounded
men who had been abandoned being
found.
French troops are advancing on a
line equalling that Of the Americans on
the left, but to the east of the Ameri-
cans the front still runs down toward
Rheims. This leaves TO the Americans
on the right the hardest task. and there
greater German resistance is expected.
In this region the Teutors have strong
positions and are capable OF making a
better defence.
The American troops crossed the Vesle
in three ways--on the bridges. which
held against the German guns and air
bombs on the trunks of trees felled to
substitute for bridges. and by alternately
wading and swimming. Although OFF,
clally characterized as patrols, the ag
N during
| day was quite large enough to hold the
| advantage gained.
! For a few hundred yards north OF the
Nesle there is a succession of slopes cut
by ravines extending down to the river.
| 1t was up these slopes, and not by way
| OF the ravines, that the Americans
worked their way. Every ravine and
other depression was avoided. for the
! Germans had filed these with gas.
, While they were able for the most part
to dodge the gas, the advancing troops
were not able TO escape altogether the
machine gun fire.
! Early in the day the American artil-
lery had begun bombardment that not
only reached the hills beyond the river
but also searched closely the positions
! just in advance OF the patrols, 1t failed
however. 10 bring such response rs
might have been expected IL the Ger
mans had been holding their positions.
Damage by ANied shells.
Fires which were seen at various
places had given rise to reports that the
| Germans were burning villages and
| farm houses, but this has not been
generally accepted as y fact. the smoke
! clouds seen being attributed to the de-
struction Of ammunition by the allied
shells in some instances and in more
numerous cases to the destruction OF
supplies that il was impossible to move
I and temporary buildings They have
not burned the French towns in this
| region perhaps because TIE buildings
are of stone construction and also be-
cause most of them in the zone OF the
fighting are already nothing more than
| ruins.
The German avlators contributed ma
| terially TO the rear guard defence. Every
yard the French and Americans adj
vanced was noted by the enemy aviators
who also took an active part in the