The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-09-05
GERMAN FORCES
BLOW UP DUMP
SOUTH OF AISNE
American Ayiators Report ViO-
lent Explosions on Aisne.
Yanks Encounter Little OppOsi-
tiOn as They Advance.
REACH SLOPES TOWARD RIVER
Have Been Moving Steadily
Forward Today.
Germans Left Only Rear Guard
Machine Guns.
Yanks Encounter Little OppOsi-
tion as They Advance.
REACH SLOPES TOWARD RIVER
(By the Associated Press.)

With the American forces north of
the Vesle, Sept. 5 (noon)-Violent ex-
plosions were heard along the line
they believed the Germans were de-
stroying their ammunition dumps.
An aviator reported a terrific ex-
plosion at 9 o'clock at Villers-en-
Prayeres. on the south bank of the
river Aisne directly north of Fismes.
other explosions took place in the
same region during the morning.
Bazoches and Fismette were occu-
pied by the Americans during the
night. These towns had been evacuat-
ed by the Germans, only two or three
wounded men who had been aban-
doned being found.
Virtually No Opposition.
Virtually no opposition was encoun-
tered. Aerial and other observers re-
ported that there was every indica-
ton that the main body of Germans
had retired across the Aisne. The
American forces following up the Ger
man retreat from the Vesle moved
steadily over the plateau between the
Vesle and the Aisne today and by
noon their advanced elements had
filtered into the slopes on the north
ern side of the plateau.
Paris, Sept. 5.-Franco-American
forces pursuing the Germans north of
the Vesle have reached the line of the
Aisne, according to advices from the
front this morning.
(By the Associated Press)
With the American Army on the
Vesle, Wednesday, Sept. 4.-Ameri-
| cans, with the French moving with
them on their left have advanced
from the Vesle to the edge of the
plateau along the line from Brenelle,
Vauvcere, BlanZy and Baslieux. The
Germans nearest this line along which
| they might make rear guard defense
OF any consequence are opposite the
edge of the plateau paralleling the
Aisne, over which it is obvious they
have removed their stores and heavy
artillery.
The advance of the Americans in
| force began at % clock this morning.
and patrols, one after another have
been going over all day and meeting
sharp resistance at some points.
Headed for the Aisne.
After a month on the Vesle, during
which they have been subjected to a
| gentle pressure night and day by the
| tightly drawn line from Scissors to
Rheims. the Germans appear to be
| heading straight for the Aisne and
| possibly for their old positions on the
! Chemin des DANES.
| Drive Toward Laon Flanked Them.
1t was not unexpected. The move
was in fact because it was inevitable
| While the pressure from the south was
! drive north from scissors on to the
| western end of the plateau made theiI
| position between the two rivers prac-
| tically untenable. The extent to which
| the retreat has gone is not mentioned
officially and therefore cannot be told
n H.
| stantial progress has been made by
! the Americans.
| Army Crosses the Vesle.
| Orders reached the American COM
| manders before daylight to send out
! patrols and investigate and their re-
ports caused the Immediate despatch
| of supporting patrols Before night
| had been camping along the Vesle was
in action on the slopes north of the
river. And there was action, notwith-
! standing that the Germans already
| had taken the initiative in their with
| drawal.
! Once more the German has en-
ployed the tactics of a machine gun
| defense and the Americans have beer
facing their fire all day.
In the neighborhood of Bazoches
the Americans were advancing along
the highway north of the river while
a little to the east they we're south OF
| the river. BaZoches and Fismette have
been disputed possessions since the
lines closed early in August and a,
the beginning of operations today
were held by the Germans. The
Americans. however, did not worry
about them this time. but advanced
along the river to points where cross
ings had been decided upon.
Smoke arising from behind the Ger
man lines has been observed for the
! past two or three dayS.