The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-08-03

Paris, Aug 0--F TenCn duNdACeo
forces have reach the river Vesle and
are preparing to cross the stream.
The Germans are continuing heir
retreat towards the river Aisns.
Reach Jonchery.
On the French Front. in France,
Aug. 3.-Cavalry patrols have arrived
at the river Vesle in the vicinity of
Champigny and Jonchery, finding all
the bridges cut or burned by the Ger
mans.
Just west of Rheims the allies nave
reached or are approaching Tiuqueux
Thilois, Guer and Rosnay, all lying in
the neighborhood of the main road
from Rouen to Rheims. Fires are il
Eliminating the skies everywhere, the
enemy burning everything as he re-
treats. More than forty conflasrations
were counted during the night
Advance Continues.
With the French Armies IN the
Field, Aug. 3.-The allied advance
south of the Nesle river towards
Fismes continues.
Skirting the Aisne from Pommeirs
to VenieI, allied troops are reaching
the regions of Serches, Couvrelles and
CerseuI.
tThis latter place is about seven
miles west OF Fismes.)
Further east the allied progress al
so continues. Cavalry patrols have
reached certain points along the Vesle
towards Champigny and Jonchery
crossing bridges set fire by the Ger
mans.
(The simultane JUS advance of the
allies towards Fismes from the east
and west indicates that the gap at the
top of the Soissons-Rueim pocket has
been reduced to about 13 and one-half
miles This is the distance between
CerSeul west of FismeS and TOnchery,
east of Fismes. both of which places
the allies have reached.)
West OF Rheims the regions of Tin
queX, Thillois, Gueux. Rosnav and
MontaXin have been attained.
These villages are along line run
ming almost directly west of rheims }
Fourteen large incendiary fire CEN
ters were counted last night.
Defense Crumbles.
tBy the Associated PressJ
The right wing of the German arm
les south of the Aisne appears to have
crumbled before the attack of the al
lies.
Occupying scissors apparently was
only a small incident in the grand
scheme that is being worked out by
the allied commanders. After that
historic city had been cleared of Ger
mans, the allies swept eastward along
the south bank of the Aisne as far as
Nenizel and along the winding course
of the stream took positions which will
facilitate their crossing, should that
be the intention of the generals direct
ing the offensive.
While this movement was going on.
the allies on the plateau southeast OF
scissors. swept forward, and London
reports they have rolled up the Ger
man lines south of the Aisne and
reached a point south of Braine on the
Vesle river, about eleven miles from
Scissors
Coincident with this advance the al
lies on the center and the right have
moved ahear until. as nearly as can
be ascertained from reports, they are
in Rosnay, a miles and a half from
the Vesle river. Further west they
have reached Serzy- -Et-Prin, about five
miles from Fismes, the German base
on the front, which is reported in
AS the line stands today. its shape
resembles a gigantic fish hook The
shank of the "hook'' runs straight
west from Rheims to Serzy, then
bends slightly to the southwark and
then curves northward to the hills
south of the Aisne, where it sweeps
TO the east as far as south of Braine
Push on East of Braine.
Reports from the front say the ad-
vance eastward from Braine is con-
tinuing. If this movement succeeds
the Germans caught by Foch's fish
hook" will become compelled to fight
at great disadvantage while their
only retreat will be over the high hills
over the Vesle and Aisne.
There now seems to be no possibility
of the Germans holding their line on
the Vesle. The Aisne presents the first
safe refuge for the defeated armies Of
the German crown prince
Withdrawn on British Front.
German forces holding the line north
of Albert in the Picardy sector east
of Amiens. have retired across the
Ancre river, according to London over
a front of between three and four
miles. The British official statement
says that British patrols have pushed
forward and occupied portions OF
the enemy's trenches.
The enemy has withdraw to posi-.
tions that are much stronger thar
were those or the west side~ of the
stream There have been intimations
that the British have completed theil
Continued on PaRe Two.I