The Sentinel=record., 1918-08-04
WAR AT A GLANCE
(By the Associated ProssD

| and Rheims on the Aisne on which | terrific fighting has been going or ] for two weeks, has been virtually cut 1 out by the allied forces. French cav 1 airy patrols now are operating along the railroad running between these two cities, constituting the two piv- otal points of the previous German outskirts of Fismes, the great supply base of the German army, which the enemy strove with utmost strength and determination to hold; allied ad vance guards have reached the southern bank of the Aisne and the force of the combined thrusts of French, British and Americans ap- pears great enough now to drive the Germans lack even beyond the Aisne to the heights of the Chemin des- Danes, where powerful defenses must then be faced
 Both east and west the allies on Saturday increased the speed of their advance, distance of more than six miles forward being gained at certain points. The line now has been so strengthened as to escape the dan ger which previously threatened the southern bend from Soissons of be- ing enfiladed.
 Notwithstanding the difficulties confronting them the allies are bringing up their guns almost as fast as the Germans are withdrawing theirs and all the roads over which the Germans are retiring are being subjected to the heaviest lombard ments.
 Coincidcntally the British have regained important ground west of the Ancre river where the enemy also is retreating.
 After holding back the allies for days along the Ourcq the German line seemed to collapse and the re- treat northward became preclpitate.
 The decisive blow of the battle be- tween the Marne and the Aisne seems to have been delivered Wednesday when the allied troops broke the enemy lines at Hertennes. northwest of Fere en- -Tardenois. The whole German line had been pivoting on this point and tine allied success there puts the entire Teuton force into what seems to have been dis order.
 As the result of the allies sensa- tional advance since Thursday they now hold the line of the Vesle river from Rheims at least as far as Braisne. Beyond this town the sit uation is somewhat obscure, but 1t is known that the allies are on the hills overlooking the Vesle valley to the west and the northwest. At Ven- izel the allies hold the south bank of the Aisne and their lines extend iers.
 There is no certainty that the Ger mans will find the Aisne butwark and be able to reform their shattered column behind it, Advices from Paris indicate that the Germans lines north of the river are in a dan gerous situation and they may not be able to hold them. If this is the case the retirement will go on until the enemy is back again to the lines north of the Chemin des -DameS.
 So far as the reports from the bat tie front show the situation about Soissons, 1t is apparent that the Ger mans are strongly posted on the hills to the north of the Aisne There may, however, be other elements in the situation, which, when reported, will reveal the true situation and its menace to the enemy.
 The retreat of the Germans has been carried out with skill, and up until Thursday, seemed to be or derly. if not deliberate. Even since that time there have been no reports of large captures of prisoners and there has been no mention of cap tured cannon. It is probable, there fore. that the German retreat has been successful operation, so far as men and guns may be concerned.
 The loss to the Germans, however, in munitions and materials, will be very heavy.
 The success of the allies, more- over. has apparently thrown the whole German plan of campaign out of joint,
 There have been large units with drawn from the northern battle front to support the crown princes army and the German. withdrawal across the Ancre river from Albert north ward for distance of more than three miles is considered by London to be an indication that the enemy has abandoned that section of the Picardy battlefield as the scene of offensive operations.
 There have Deen indications that
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