The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-09-05
B0CHES HEADING
FOR AISNE RIVER
And Possibly Old Positions on
Chemin.des- Dames-Move
Not Unexpected.
DEPOT STORES IN FLAMES
Some Result Hits From Allied
Batteries-0thers by En-
emy's Own Guns,
DEPOT STORES IN FLAME

win tne American Army on Inc
Vesle. Wednesday, Sept. 4.-Americans
with the French moving with them on
their lett have advanced from the
Vcsle to the edge of the plateau along
n line from Brentelle, Vaux Cere,
BlanZy and BaslieuX. The Germans
nearest this line along which they
might make rear guard defense OF
any consequence are opposite the edge
of the plateau paralleling the Aisnc
over which it Is obvious they have re-
moved 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 ell day and meeting
sharp resistance at some points.
After a month on the Vesle, during
which they have been subjected to a
gentle pressure night and day by the
tightly drawn line from Soissons to
Rheims, the Germans appear to be
heading straight for the Aisne and
possibly for their old positions on the
Chemin- des- Danes. IL was not un-
expected. The move was in fact looked
for because it was inevitable. While
the pressure from the south was in
sistent If not vigorous. the onward
drive north from Scissors on to the
western end of the plateau made their
position between the two rivers prac-
tically untenable. The extent to which
tho retreat has gone Is not mentioned
officially and therefore cannot be told,
but it is permissible to say that sub
stantial progress has been made by
the Americans.
Patrols Ordered Out.
Orders reached the American COM
manders before daylight to send out
patrols to investigate and their re-
ports caused the immediate dispatch
Of supporting patrols Before night
fall n large part of the army, which
had been camping along the Vesle,
was in action on the slopes north of
the river. And there was action. not
withstanding that the Germans al
ready had taken the initiative in their
withdrawal.
Once more the Germans have en-
ployed the tactics of machine gun
defense and the Americans have been
facing their fire all day.
In the neighborhood Of Bazoches the
Americans were advancing along the
north of the river, while n
little to the east they were south OF
the river. Bazoches and F'ismette have
been disputed possessions since early |
in August and at the beginning OF |
operations today they were held by |
the Germans. The Americans, now |
ever, did not worry about them this |
time, but advanced along the river to |
points where crossings had been de-
cidcd upon.
Boches Burn Depots.
Smoke arising from behind the Ger
man lines has been observed for the
past two or three days. In some in
stances the cause Is known to have
been from the explosion OF an ammuni-
lion dump fired by a direct hit from
IN allied battery, but. the increasing
number of smoke columns has given
Use to the suggestion that the Ger
mans are burning such or their depot
structures and supplies as 1t is mad
1isable to remove.
Such measures were adopted in the
'etreat north of the Marine and 1t is
hought the German staff Is again pre-
,aring n retrograde movement. Patrols
,ent out early in the day reported that
he German retreat was under way.