The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1918-08-07
Decisive Defeat Inflicted
SSon Huns
EYES TURN TO
THE NORTHWEST

puiSlrcd OF the SoissonS- Rheims
Salient All Eyes NoM Turn to the
Northwest Where Crown Prince
Nnpprccht IS Being Pressed.
The German retreat continues una
batcd with the Allies everywhere in
hot pursuit.
-Aftor hard nghting the Americans
and French have succeeded in taking
from the Germans the important town
OF Fismcs, once Gcrmany's great am
the railway between Soissons and
Rheims, while to the east at Il num-
Der Of places along the VcSlc river,
the French have crossed the stream,
driving the enemy northward East
of scissors Allied troops have ncgo-
tiatod the passage Of the AiSnc to the
northern bank Of that stream whore
they arc in q position to press tic
enemy as he cndcavors to straightcn
out his line in conformity with that
running northwcStward.
So fast has been the retreat Of the
Germans in the center that already
some elements Of their forces have
succeeded in reaching tho northern
bank Of the Asnc and getting num-
bers Of their big guns across with
them. All through the salient towns
arc still ahazc behind the rctrcating
Germans and even cornliclds have been
G,,n IN,
lied troops from garnern" the rip
ened crop.
BY Associated Press, Aug. 6-Thc
Germans now arc imposing strong op-
position to the further advance Of the
$eSslled troops along the Vcslc river
from the cast OF Soissons to the region
west of Rheims.
Meantime, however, tho main bod
les Of the enemy army continue to
make their way toward the Asnc, to
thc north Of which stream they hope
somewhere to reach haven Of safe
ty from the Dersisten onslaught OF
the American, British, French and the
Italian troops, who in less than three
weeks have all but blotted out the
Soissons-Rhcims salient.
Notwithstanding the bringing into
play by the enemy Of large numbers
Of machine guns and artillery OF the
heavier calibrc, and the employment
Of large numbers Of picked troops, in
Guiding the well-tried Prussan Guard
and the Bavarians; and in spite Of the
fact that the rains have sent tho river
Vcslc out Of bounds and turned the
lowlands into Quagmires, the Amcri-
cans and the other Allied troops have
forced crossing OF the river at num-
Der Of points and on the north side
of the stream are engaging the enemy.
1t Is now expected in military cir
q cles that 1t Is the purpose OF the
Germans to turn about and face their
enemies south Of the Aisnc. The hilly
region to the north OF the Aisne-
probably the old Chcmin dcs Danes
%Rattle fronts considered the more
probable sector on which the crown
prince will elect again to test the met
tie OF the men Of General Foch's COM
mand.
1t Is not beyond the realm of pos
sibility that the greater portion Of
the western battle front shortly may
undergo material changes in posi-
tions. From the southeast of Amicns
near Montdidicr northward to the re-
gion around Ypres the German front
seems all atrcmble with expectancy.
Just what The Germans have in
mind cannot be forctold. 1t is known,
however, that Grown Prince Rup-
precht OF Bavaria during the early
stages of the Allied offensive on the
scissors Rheims sector detached
large numbers Of his men and sent
them to the aid Of his sorely-tried i'm
perial cousin, the German crow
prince, thereby weakening his line
while Field Marshal Haig's front was
not materially touched by Withdrawals.
.eHt is not improbable therefore, that
Rupprecht Is worrying somewhat over
k his diminution in strength and al
ready has placed barriers between
himself and the forces fronting him
TO ward off possible attacks and Is en-
deavoring to ascertain what chances
he has to hold other positions from
t@hich he had intended ultimately to