Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-08-28


with the American Army in France,
Aug 2S
There are signs that the situation
on the American front along the NesIe
may not much longer remain of a
stabilized nature.
Inc advance of General Mangin's
army north of Soissons has threatened
German positions between the Vesle
ana the Aisne to such an extent that
further Allied advance in that sec.
Tor would force a hasty German re.
tirement behind the .Aisne River. That
me German high command fears an
effort IN this direction and doubts it's
apiiity to maintain the present posi-.
u9hs' with the Americans and French
constantly harassing the enemy on
the south, is shown by reports re-
CeiVed yesterday that guns and sup
pies We're being taken across the
Aisne in large quantities.
our guns in increasing volume are
smelling the crossroads and a strategic
positions behind the Vesle and accom-
pushing great damage. For instance
the suspicion having been aroused
that certain woods north of the Vesle
sheltered German ammunition
dump. the American batteries were
tod TO fire on il. Ten minutes after
wv r1tN'hVes cut loose in that direc.
tion. -Four big explosions were oh.
served, followed by fires, We are also
using a considerable quantity of gas
Americans Face Crack Troops
or the five divisions of Germans in
'front.' of the Americans three are cracl,
nlNslons. showing that the German
command is taking no chances ywith
our troops and leaving no weak spot
| Tor them to break through. Shonld
the Germans retire in every probabil.
tfY they will continue to follow tho
Hindenburg policy of making an ad
vance as costly as possible for the
Americans '''e
AL any time the last two weeks the
frenca and Americans could have
nuShed to the Aisne by paying n Ger.
'uiii price out to do so has not been
part OF General Foch's plans. How.
ever, II would occasion no surprise IL
'he crown Prince was soon forced to
announce strategic victory of retrea +
away from his Vesle line. There are
several ways by which this might he
brought about
The small brushes of a local nature
that have been constantly going on
between the Americans and the Ger.
mans have occurred without material
cnange on the line, and each side sends
out score or more of patrols each
night, which has led to considerable
close hand fighting in No Mans Land.
Each side has inflicted casualties on
the other, and each side has lost some
prisoners. but nothing much has re-
suited except that in the last two
days the Americans have bettered
their line along the railroad north
of the river near Fismes. We cap.
tured thirty machine guns in good con.
dition and destroyed twenty more
which the Germans had damaged.
Allied Aviators Supreme
Seven prisoners who were brought
In yesterday from guard divisions
showed something Of the change in
morale that crack German units have
undergone. The men said they no
longer felt that Germany could win
the war, but were very confident the
Allies could not get a decision. Here.
tofore, members Of the guard divisions
always have expressed confidence in
Germany's complete success.
German aerial activity has died down
In the last few days, indicating with.
drawal of chasse machines from the
Nesle sector. Allied aviators once
more have air supremacy In this Sec
tor.
Frequent German raids on American
sectors east of Nerdun indicate a de.
sire on the part Of the artillery of the
boche command to keep informed of
what we are doing there. German
newspapers have announced the ex.
pectation of an allied attack in the
Lorraine region.