Arizona republican., 1918-08-03
German Defense Lines Deep
 ly Indented for Splendid Gains, Predict Retirement
 of Forces of Grown Prince
(By The Associated Press)

The crisis in the allied offensive on the SoiSsons- Reims salient apparently has been reached.
 French troops nave entered the town Of Soissons. and all along the 36 miles of curving battle line from Soissons to Thillois, which lies about three miles west of Reims, French, American and British troops have pushed in the en- tire enemy front and sent the Germans backward everywhere in retreat.
 Quick and ForcibIe Onslaushts
 Over the battle front the allies, by quick and forcble methods of on- slaught. have deeply indented German defense line for splendid gains, which seemingly foreshadow the necessity of the eventual retirement of the forces of the German crown prince.
 The plains behind the northwestern portion of the battle front are domin- ated by the allied guns; in the south the French and Americans have nego- tiated almost all of the hill and forest country and are encroaching percepti- bly, toward the Fismes railway, while on the east the British and French are almost astride the Reims- Soissons rail way and have their guns now so placed that the enemy is sure to be sorely tried as he endeavors to press back and gain a haven of refuge along the Vesle river.
 May Go North of Aisne
 Just how far the retreat of the Ger mans will go cannot at present be fore cast. but with the southern line swing ing northward in conjunction with that on the east toward the Nesle, and the French dominating the Aisne eastward from Soissons, it is not improbable that the Germans may be compelled to take refuge north of the Aisne.
 Numerous towns and hamlets have been captured by the allied forces dur ing the latest fighting, and at some points they have advanced from two to three miles. South of Soissons the entire Crise river has been forded by the allied troops; northeast of Fere-en Tardenois the allied line has beer pushed well to the west of the region of Grand Rozoy and the town of Sapo- nay has been taken.
 Wood Swept Clean of Huns
 In the center the Nesles wood is be- ing swept clean of Germans by the French cavalry and American and French troops are pressing the Ger mans hard north of Sergy and the ham let of Nesles.
 Further eastward almost to the gate. of Reims. combined forces of Britisl and French everywhere are sorely harassing the enemy. In this latter region, in addition to Thillois, the vii. lage of Vile en- Tardenois is in allied hands and the French are now on tn, heels of the Germans two and a hal miles north of the Dormans- Reims higi road over front of nearly four miles
 Situation Most Promising
 Altogether, viewed from the wa maps. the situation for the allied troop at present is most promising one fo complete success in ridding the Sois sons- Reims salient of the enemy
 Throughout later phases of the bat ties the Germans have not shown tlei stamina of previous days, and at som points the allied troops, particularly tin Americans. were enabled to make thei way into German positions with virtu ally no opposition being imposed.
 Nowhere Near End of Retreat
 All behind the battle lines the smok Of burning towns is visible, whic seemingly would give weight to tn prevailing belief in the allied capital that the Germans at present are no where near the end of their retreat.
 Aside from the Soissons- -Reims sa lient there has been little fighting i other war theaters. The British ar continuing their raids on the German i1 France and Flanders, and the Ger mans at last accounts were heavil bomharding the British south of tn SDmne and near Ypres.