Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-09-05
YANKEES STEADILY
T.. PRESS FOE BACK
Early Morning Advance Sends
Enemy Back From VesIe
Toward the Aisne.
FEW PRISONERS TAKEN

WITH THE AMERICAN FORCES
NORTH OF THE vESLE RIVER.
September 5.-(By the Associated
Press)-Noon: Violent explosions
were heard along the line this
morning. Observers reported that
they believed the Germans were de-
strOying their ammunition dumps.
An aviator reported a terrific ex-
plOsion at 8 o'clock Mt VilIers-en-
Prayeres, ON the south bank Of the
river AIsne. directly north Of Fis-
mes. Other explosions took place
In the same region during the
morning.
,BazOches and Fismette were oc-
'cupfed by the Americans during
the night. These towns had been
evacuated by the Germans. only
two or three wounded men who
lad been abandoned being found.
By the Associated Press.
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY ON
THE VESLE, Wednesday, September
with the French moving
with them on their left, have advanced
from the Vesle to the edge of the
plateau along a line from Brentelle
VauX Cere, Blanzy and Baslieux The
Germans nearest this line along which
they might make a rearguard 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 4 o'clock this morning,
and patrols, one after another. have
been going over all day and meeting
sharp resistance at some points.
Head Straight for Aisne.
After month on the Vesle. during
which they have been subjected to a
gentle pressure night and day by the
line from scissors to
the Germans appear to be
heading straight for the Aisne and
possibly for their old positions on the
Chemin deS Danes. 1t was not unex-
pected. The move was, in fact. be-
cause it was inevitable. While the
pressure from the south was insistent
from Sofssons on to the western end
of the plateau made their position be-
tween the two rivers practically un-
tenable.
some is not mentioned officially and
therefore cannot be told. but it is per-
misSible to say that substantial prog
ress has been made by the Americans
Orders reached the American COM
ma nders before daylight to send out
patrols to Investigate and their re-
ports caused the immediate dispatc
Of supporting patrols. Before night
fall a large part of the army which
had been camping along the Nesle
was in action on the slopes north of
the river And there was action, not
that the Germans al
ready had taken the initiative in their
withdrawal.
Machine Gun Defense.
Once more the German has employed
the tactics of a machine gun defense
and the Americans have been facing
their fire all day. -.
In the neighborhood of Bazoches the
were advancing along the
highway north of the river. while =
little to the east they were south OF
have been disputed possessions since
the lines closed early in August and
at the beginning of operations today
they were held by the Germans. The
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
mast two or three days. In some in
stances the cause is known to have
been from the explosion of an am
nnunition dump fired by a direct hi
from an allied battery, but the in.
creasine number of smoke columns
has given rise to the suggestion that
the Germans are burning such OF
their depot structures and supplies as
;t is inadyfsable to remove. Similar
mea sures were adopted prior to the
retreat north of the Marne. and II
ia concluded that the German stan
ment. Patrols sent out early in the
day reported that the German retreat
was under way.
Cross Vesle in Three Ways.
The troops crossed the vesle in three
wavs-on the bridges whicn nclt
hemhs. on the trunks of trees felled as
Substitute for bridges and by -altel
nately wading and swimming. Al
though officially characterized as pa
trols. the aggregate Of troops sen
across during the day was quite larg.
enough to hold the advantage gained
For a few hundred yards north O
the Vesle there is a succession O.
slope- cut by ravines, extending dowI
to the river It was mp these slopes ant
not by way of the ravines that tn.