The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-03
GERMANS AVOID
HARD BLOWS BY
SUDDEN FLIGHT
Line Now Only Eight Miles
From Great Supply Base
at Fismes.
GAIN FROM 1 TO : MILES
Stiffest Fight Was Near
Chamery. Where Quentin
Roosevelt Is Buried.
GAIN FROM 1 TO . MILES
By the Associated Press.

..
ward was made to-day by the French
and Americans on the Aisne- -Marne
front From one to two miles was
gained. and with almost no fighting.
Plans had been made to strike hard
blows against the resisting German
rear, but the enemy's war council
evidently had decided that the time
was inopportune to fight, for when
the Allies moved forward 1t was only
to follow, upon the trails OF the re-
treating ensmy. ..-.
NAt a few piaces t.1sre were sharp en-
counters. but theys~efe nothing as CON-
pared with the terrible engagements
which previously had been fought or
what was expected,
The French cavalry operated near
Drayegny. about two and one-hal: miles
moth OF CoulonEss. with the American
inj Entry close behind. while another de-
tachment Of mounted French troops
opened the way short dist4Mte 70 -tht
west, with French infantry and Ameri-
can foot troops close up.
Fight Mile, From Fismes
The penetration by the French and
Americans 10 the region of Dravegny
would place them only scant e.gh,
miles southwest OF Fismes. on the rail-
road line midway between Scissors and
Rheims. To the westward the French
reached the southern borders of the Lou
pe!gne. Mareuil ana Aiguzy woods and
the French cavalry to the southern bor-
ders Of the Moines wood
Occasional bursts OF machine gun fire
challenged the advancing line. but il
was apparent early in the movement
that the Germans had gone. The swift
est fighting encountered by the Ameri-
cans was in a little piece of ground
east Of Chamery. where, according to
the German newspapers. the body OF
Lieut.. Quentin Roosevelt was buried
after his airplane had been brought
down early in the present operations.
Through wheatfelds and over wooded
trails soaked with rain which fell almost
all day, the Americans moved slowly
and cautiously. but almost continuously
over farms and past villages, among
them. Coulonges and Conan. To the
westward another force Of Americans
also was moving steadily through and
around the Nesles Woods and the roll
ing country east of the woods. To both
the east and west OF that part of the
line held by the Americans tie French
were meeting with similar success.
Few prisoners were taken through
the day. but one OF them, a Captain.
admitted that the German artillery had
been withdrawn. His stories tended
to confirm the stories OF other men
captured. that the Germans were de-
termined to make their next big stand
on the Vesle, and not the Ardre. and
that their movements under way in
dicated the fortlfying OF Fismes AS the
centre of the next fixed line of battle.
Heavy Fighting Expected.
II is not anticipated that the Ger
mans will withdraw TO the Nesle line
without renewing their rear guard re-
sistance. and 1t is expected that the
presens virtually unopposed advance
will end quickly, perhaps with stiff
ighting on the higher ground Just
south of the Ardre, to give the Ger
mans more time for getting their ar
tillery and stores across the river.
With only a slight advance in addition
to that OF to-day the heavy guns of the
Allies easily will be in position to shell
Fismes, and any part OF the line the
Germans may determine to stand on
could Immediately be made uncomforta-
bley
Although the enemy's retreat on the
whole has been successful and he has
succeeded thus far in exit icating the
greater portions of his armies from the
salient, observers have witnessed con-
dltions which they believe indicate that
the Germans are moving more hastily
than they desire. Huge clouds of smoke
and dull explosions have come from st.
Gille on the Ardre, a short distance
south OF Fismes. and other places nearer
the allied front. These told of the de-
structon OF big munition dumps
Fires also are visible at eight or ten
places. even as far 40 Fismes. Tbat
hey had been started by the Germans
seems obvious. since no allied shells had
reached these places during the day.
The Americans expected to and the
enemy prepared tor a bitter fight. but
when they swung northward from their
positions IN the line after brief artillery
preparation to which there was no re-
ply. all was silence in front Of them.