Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-08-05
FOE'SNEXT STAND
MAY BE ON AISNE
Use of Heavy Guns Above
Vesle Believed to Indi-
cate Plan
ALLIED TROOPS TIRED
Special Cable to Evening Public Ledeer
Copyright 1913. By NeU York Times Co.
With the Eranch Arr,,ia. A.

Special Gable to Evening Public Ledger
Copyright. 1913. By Ne,0 York Times Co.
with the French Armies, Aug. 5.
with the comparative calm reign.
ing along the new Allied front since
Saturday night broken only by a few
reports of shells from big guns.
question being frequently asked is
whether the Germans intend To re-
main in the positions they have al.
ready reached in their retreat, or go
back to the other bank of the Aisne
right along the line. The present DO
sition occupied by the Crown Princes
armies forms a straight line from
Scissors to Rheims, which latter town
is still surrounded on three sides. In
order to hold this line the enemy
needs many fewer divisions than
would be necessary if he retreated en-
tirely to the northern bank of the
Aisne, whose course forms a series of
indentations which would call for
large bodies of troops to defend.
The presence of heavy guns be.
tween the Nesle and the Aisne gives
rise to the opinion that the Crown
d e,
On the other hand, these guns may
simply be a cover for the retreating
| troops crossing the Aisne, which river
would be extremely dangerous in the
rear Of beaten army.
Allied Troops Need Rest
The absence of fighting in these
last twenty-four hours has been chiefly
| caused by the need for rest by the
| Allied troops, who have been pursuing
the Germans at such a rapid rate
! since Thursday. They had to contend
with remarkably bad weather condi.
tions, which put the roads and fields
in terrible state in some places, max
| ing them almost impossible.
The German big guns. in the mean.
| time, from emplacements on the north
ern banks of the Aisne and the Nesle
are sending frequent shells to hinder
the passage of Allied re-enforcements
| to support the small detachments
| which hitherto have held contact with
| the enemy.
Every vale and ravine in the coun.
| try so recently evacuated by the Ger
mans Is also frequently searched by
their artillery, which hopes to catch
| concentrations of Allied troops and
supply columns.
The great pocket made in the Allied
! lines between the Alsne and the Marine
when the Crown Prince started his
| offensive. which was to force the Al
| lies to plead for peace, is almost en-
| tirely emptied. The enormous Ger
man masses which were thrown into
il are noN in full retreat toward their
departure parallels, with the French
! British and American troops in the
| hottest pursuit.
Already the retiring enemy has been
| chased across the Vesle and part of
| the Aisne, destroying the bridges as
| he went in order to prevent the vic
torious Allied soldiers who are close
on his heels from eneircling and cap
turing his retiring divisions before
| they had time to organize new posi-
tions on the northern side of the
rivers. Whether they will be able to
make more than a temporary stand
on their present line cannot be fore
seen. but indications In the shape OF
burning VILLAGES. ammunition dumps
and supply depots seem to foreshadow
q stiii further retirement.
The leaden skies TODAY were bright
ensd BY nameoTjsins from every point
of the bor1 81 and the drQnchiDa
S6wnrc11f 11 pdFeriess tQ f}sy ~
go ); - = 19liberesa affik