Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-08-04
ALLIED ADVANCE !,
GUARDS ARRIVE y
AT A|SNE RIVER.
French, Americans and Britt
ish May Drive Enemy to Z
Chemin-des- Danes. s.;
HAlG'S SOLDIERS GAIN
WEST OF ANCRE RIVER
German Line Collapses, and Re-
treat Northward Becomes :,
Precipitate. "a
GREAT SUPPLY BASE FALLS
| Crown Prince Has Been Deyoting
Energies to Extricating His
Army Since Thursday. ssIi
GREAT SUPPLY BASE FALLS
tBy Associated Press.

by Associated rressl
The great salient between Soisson.
and Rheims. IN the Aisne- Marre front
III which terrific fighting has been 90.
ing on for two weeks. ha. been vir-
tually cut out by the allied forcee
French cavalry patrols now are oper.
ating along tho railroad running be-
tween these two cities. constituting
the two pivotal points OF the previous
German advance; American troops hold
the outskirts Of Fismes the great sup-
ply base of the German army, which
the enemy strove with utmost strength
and determination to hold: allied ad-
vance guards have reached the SOUTH
trn bank of the Aisne and the force
CT the combined thrusts ot French.
lr!ttsh and Americans appears great!
enough now to drive the Germans baciS
even beyond tho Aisne to the heights
OF the Chcmindes Danes. wncre pows
crful defenses must then be faced
The allies on Saturday increased tho
speed OF their advance. 4 distance OF
more than six miles forward being
gained at certain points. The line now
has been so Strengthened as to escape
the danger which previously threat
ened the southern bend from So,csons
VI DelnS enIllaOeo.
Notwithstanding the difficulties con-
fronting them. tie 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 bcins; subjected to the
heaviest bombardments.
Coincidentally, the British have re.
gained important ground west Of the
Ancre River, where the enemy also Is
retrcatinG.
STRUCK on THURSDAY
The decisive blow OF the battle be-
tween the Marne and the Aisne seems
to have beeH delivered Thursday when
The allied troops btoie the enemy lines
at Bartcnncs. northwest of Fere on
ra rdenois.
The whole German line has been ptv-
citing on this point. and the allied
success there put the entire TeutoE,
force INTO what seems to have been
disorder. AS the result OF the allies.
sensational advance since Thursday
they now hold the line uf the Vesle-
River from Rheims at least AS far as.
i'ranc. Beyond this town the sitIa-
,ion Is somewhat obscure. but It. is
overlooking the Vesie oNaliey to the
west and the northwest At yenizel
the allies hold tho south bank Of the
Aisnc, and their lines extend vest
ward through scissors TO Pommieres.
There is no certainty that the Ger
mans will lind the .Aisnc a bulwark
and be able to reform their shattered
columns behind it, Advices from Paris
indicate that the Germans lines north
Of the river are in n dangerous situa-o
tion, and they may not be able to hold
them. II this is the case. the retire.
mcnt Will go until the enemy is
back again to the lines north of the
Chemin-dcs- Danes. SO far as the re-
ports from the battle front show the
battle situation about SoiSsons. 1t is
apparent that the Germans are strong,
ly 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 trua
situation and its menace to tho
enemy.
GERMAN RETREAT
ORDERLY UNTIL THURSDAY
The retreat of the Germans has been
carried out with skill. and. up until
Hut SudS, III seemed TO be orderly. IL
not deliberate. Ever since that time
there have been no reports of largo
captures of prisoners. and there has
been no mention of captured cannon.
II IS probable, therefore, that the Ger
mans retreat has been a successful
operation. so far as men and guns may
be concerned. The loss to the Ger
mans. however, in munitions and ma
terials VIII be very heavy.
The success OF the allies, however.
has apparently thrown the whole Ger-
man plan of campaign out of Joint. =
There have been large units with
drawn from the northern battle front
To support the crown princes armies.
and BE German withdrawal across tho
Ancre River from Albert northward for
a distance of more than three miles IL
considered by London to be an ind!-
cation that the enemy has abandoned
that section of the Picardy battle front
as the scene OF offensive operation
There have been indications that the
British may strike tho enemy when ths
moment is ripe. This attack might he
launched at several points along the