Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1918-08-16
.SOISSONS TAKEN
BY The ALLIES
franco-Americans Push Across
River Crise in Wake of Teutons,
Who Fire Villages and Stores.
FOE RETREATS PRECIPITATELY
Germans Leave Wake of Ruin In Flight
Toward VaiIly, Nine Miles From
Sossons- Crossing of River
Would Cut Forces to South.

Paris.-Soissons, the western pivot
Of the Crown Princes Aisne front, was
captured by the allies. With the fall
of this big base the entire German
right between the Aisne and the Ourcq
collapses.
Ville-en-Tardenois, pivot Of the Ger
man east flank southwest of Rheims.
also has been taken. Capture of both
cities was announced by the war office
In its night communiQue. The Ger
mans now must fall back to Vallly,
nine miles northeast Of Scissors. The
retreat of all German forces below
the Aisne, however, may be cut OF II
the allies break through north of that
river east Of Scissors.
scissors was the western gate OF
the pocket, and, with that gone. the
Germans are retreating precipltateiy
toward the Vesle, losing heavily In
prisoners as they flee. The allies are
pressing them closely on all sides, AID
it is believed In London that the allied
victory over the Germans marks the
turning point Of the war. The Aisne
Is very likely the ultimate destination
of the present German retreat.
The Germans still remaining in the
salient must withdraw by way Of the
Rheims end of the salient, which lacks
means of communication.
Moreover, the capture of Soissons
ends all chances Of the Germans max
ing q stand or the yesle. The entire
line of the Crown Prince resting on
the Aisne is imperiled by the victori-
Gus advance.
The Crown Princes right has caved
in. 1t is swinging back Imply, aim
lessly, like an arm out Of joint Mt the
shoulder. His left Is collapsing. Vile
en-Tardenois was its southern fore
arm; its upper hinge, west of Rheims
has been smashed out Of joint. Full
two miles the Germans have been
thrown back there. Thillois and
Guoux are no longer theirs. Down at
the apex the Grown Princes front Is
on the run. There, and on the lower
end Of the Teuton right, Americans In
the fore, five miles have been gained
in places. The "boX" has become a
huge 'w"-shaped, running front. Every
where the allies are attacking, pursu-
ing
The French and Americans In the
Fere sector thrust forward In almost
half a dozen different directions Like
spokes radiating from the hug OF
wheel, their columns are threatening
the German left in the rear, menacing
Brafsne and Fismes on the Vesle, and
have taken Ville-en-Tardenois.
Raperte village, little to the north
of Fere, Is already in Franco-Ameri-
can hands. From Sergy, Cierges and
Seringes, all scenes Of many days
fighting, in which the Americans COW
cred themselves with undyinG glory,
the Americans and poilus debouched
In a northeasterly direction, advancing
between two and three miles.
The whole inside Of the "box," which
Is now being swiftly tlattened to n
typical trench warfare front, Is ablaze.
Streams of shells are pouring from all
sides upon the German communica-
tions. The Germans are adding to
the great orgy Of flame by setting afre
all the material they cannot take
along and burning many towns and vii
lagos.