Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-08-03
FRENCH CAVALRY IN
PURSUIT OF BOCHE
List of Places Captured Reads
Like a Geographical Directory
of Northern France.
ALLIES OCCUPY SOISSONS
nx Associated Press TO Every Evening

tclcgraphing at II o'clock Friday night.
tfter the fall of Soissons. the CORE
spondcnt adds. French headquarters re-
cclyed the names Of villages and woods re-
occupied bv the Allies with almost
monotono,ls regularity.
"Plessie~ wood, he continues, which
abuts on the SoissonS-C hateau- merry
road. was turned early In the day ana tne
defenders surrounded. THIS wood was
the center Of the enemy resistance and
the fight for II was extraordinarily hitler
Farther north the British troops crossed
the Soissons-C Chateau Therry road and.
pressing through the ConcroIs wood. soon
were more than mile east Of Nliic-
montOlrc
TOWN LAID WASTE
As in March Of last year. the French
army is advancing in pursuit ot the enemy
with cavalry patrols far IN advance, while
the horse artillery and engineers ac-
company the infantry. RAIN has falien
heavily all day. and the roads arc IN 2
state which sensibly rctards the pace OF
our advance.
The description gwen hy the CORE
snondent Of the Berlin Tageblatt Of the
devastation of towns. villages ana farms
hy the enemy is true and the destruction
the German boasts OF is all the Germans
gained bv three great offenslvcs which
costs them hundreds OF thousands 81
killed. wounded and prisoners
On the northern end OF the, plateau
n the southeast of Scissors the French
have advanced from Nenizel 70 point
south Of Braine. on the Nesle- The ad-
vance IS continuing on the Inc farther 70
the east.
RUKNING TOWNS As THEY RUN.
Burning villages in the area north OF
the Xesle river between Muzon and II.
Thierrv indicate further withdrawal OF
the German forces Is intended. Fourteen
large fires have been observed
The important center Of Fismes Is in
flames and there are great confiagratlons
IN two villages TO the northwest Of that
town.
The retirement Of the forces of the
German crown prince now appears TO be
OF a very rapid character
FEW PRISONERS EXPECTED.
There has not been a great deal d
fighting. certainly not IN the area south
east of Seasons, and II Is unlikely tha'
any large captures OF prisoners vii b'
reported.
To the east Of Rheims French force
have made an important recovery o
ground
On the main battle front, in the oois
sons region. the French after completing
their occupation Of Solsspns have occupied
the south bank o; the Aisnc betweel
Pommiers and Nenizel, q distance o
approximately i've and one-haf miles
advices received today show
On the easterlv side Of the SoIssons
PheiDe front. the Eue 70 hlrh the Allie
have advanced runs according TO tn
latest ady7ces from Serzy-et-Prin ant
Sivignv. both in the Ardre valley, 10 In
highest point on tho plateau between th
Arderc and the Ncslc. and thence =
Rosnav. Gueux and Thilloi~ and on 70 TIA
Nesle at It. Brlce, which Is on the ongina
line.
RETIREMENT COVERS " IDE AREA
The Germans are executing q Ioca
retirement to the east bank OF The Ancr'
in the region Of Albert, on front Of thEe
or four miles. according TO news receive
in London today.
The German hold on the west bank {
the Ancre in this region has been prt
canoils. and it seemed 10 he tenable oni
if il were intended to he made use IF j
.he starting of an offensive. The retire
nent appears IN Indicate the abandon
ment of any attempt at an offensive ,
that quarter at present