Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-08-05
Today's War.
Summary
(By. Tho Associated Press)

Weakened by the defeat suffered
on the Soissons- Rheims front, the
Germans apparently are preparing to
assume the defensive on the front
from Ypres to Rheims.
While continuing their retirement
toward the Aisne. the Germans have
abandoned good defensive positions in
ments north and south Of the Somme
have been only local in character, but
are an indication that the German
command is aware of the danger of an
Allied attack north OF the present bat
Between soiesons and Rheims the
yesle virtually has been cleared of
enemy troops and Fismes is in the
hands Of the Americans having been
fthe.:F French kaase i.sff faIsle asasrprts. .fifs
gains and lin the region OF r Sofssons
the; French are north Of the Aisne.
Enemy resistance apparently has
been growing stronger from Fisnes
east to Rheims. However, the Vesle;
is in flood and as large swamps line
its course west Of Rheims, it is possi-
BILE the resistance may be due to the
inability of the Germans to move to
the north bank.
| Allied troops. having flattened out
the Marine pocket, have not advanced
so rapidly during the last 4S hours.
The leading units keep in close touch
with the Germans. butSit is probable
that heavy artillery will have to be
brought up If the Germans persist in
trying to hold at various points along
the Vesle.
There is little doubt in Allied capt.
tails that the German crown prince
will retire to the north of the Aisne.
| HE rociSf FranNh =,
the Rheims region not unlikely is for
the purpose Of the holding the Allies
from breaking through and also to
prevent them from getting between
the Vesle and the Aisne before he
can get his troops to the northern
stream. The heights Of the Chemin
des Danes offer the most suitable de-
fensive position. but even this would
be precarious II the French can ad-
vance north Of the Aisne in the Sois-
sons region.
! This would also threaten seriously
the enemy positions in the salient
about Montdidier and the line farther
north in Picardy and probably ac-
counts for the withdrawal north and
south of the Somme.
| British troops now hold Hamel
and Dernancourtson the west bank Of
the Ancre and the Germans are to the
east Of the river. At Albert, where
the Ancre divides the town, the situa-
tion is not clear.
From Mesnil-St. George west Of
Montdidier. to Braches. the Germans
are retiring across the Avre. Their
fretrograde movement already has
averaged two miles on a seven mile
front. The French hold Braches.
have penetrated into Hargicourt and
are on the outskirts Of Courtemarche.
The movement to the eastern banks
Of the Ancre and Avre are both de-
fensive in character. The German
holdings west of the rivers were not
very large but would have served as
Jumping off," places in future opera
tions. The Allies now control the
heights west Of each stream. Mill
tary experts have called the Avre the
path to Amiens and the enemy posi-
tions on the west bank were very inn
/ portant, II the drive for Amiens was
to be continued. (.
Great quantities Of ammunition and
gums have been taken by the French,
I American and British troops south Of
the Vesle. ss5b
No additional report on total Of
prisoners has been made since the
middle Of last week, but in Paris It is
declared that when the aggregate Of
prisoners captured Is made known. It
"will thrill the Allied world"
| General Pershing reports that
American troops alone have captured
X 4 Ann md ~ tp,ysaa .'ft 3t4sS,.