Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-08-03

Il precipitate retreat.
 Over the battle front the allies, by quick and forcible methods of on- slaught have deeply indented the Ger man defense line for splendid gains, which seemingly foreshadow the nec- essity of the eventual retirement of the forces of the German crown prince tc more tenable ground in the north.
 Vesle Line Danger to Huns.
 The plains behind the northwestern portion of the battle front now are entirely dominated by the allied big guns; in the south the French and Aericans have negotiated almost >all of the hill and forest country and are encrcaching perceptibly toward the Fismes railway, while on the east the British and French are almost astride the Rheims-Soissons railway 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 riv- CT.
 Just how far the retreat of the Germans will go cannot at present be forecast, but with the southern line swinging northward in conjunction with that on the east toward the Vesle, and with the French dominat- ing 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 troops durin~ the latest fighting, and at some points they have advanced from two to three miles.
 Allies Cross Crise River.
 South of Soissons the entire Crlse river has been forded by the allied troops; northeast of Fere-En- -Tarde. nois, the allied line has been pushed we'll to the west of the region of Grand Rozoy, and the town of Sapon- ay has been taken.
 In the center the Nesles wood is being swept clean of Germans by the French cavalry, and American and French troops are pressing the Ger mans hard north of Sergy and the hamlet of Nesles.
 Further eastward almost to the gates of Rheims, combined forces of British and French everywhere are sorely harassing the enemy.
 In this latter region, in addition to Thillos, the village of Vile En Tar denois is in allied hands, and the French now are on the heels fthe Germans 2 1-2 miles north of Dor mans Rheims high road over front of nearly four miles.
 Altogether viewed from the war map the positions of the allied troops at present is a most promising one for the complete success in r1ddlng the Soissons- Rheims salient entirely of the enemy.
 Germans Wearing Down.
 Through out the latter phases ot the battles the Germans have not shown their stamina of previous days, and at some points the allied troops, particularly the Americans were en- abled to make their way into German positions with virtually no opposition being imposed. .,
 All behind the battle lines the smoke of burning towns is visible which seemingly would give weight to the prevailing belief in the allied capl- tals that the eGrmans at present are nowhere the end of their retreat.
 Aside from the Soissons- Rheims salient there has been little fighting in any of the war theatres.
 The British are continuing theil raid on the Germans in France ana Flanders, and the eGrmans at last ac. counts were heavily bombarding the British south of the Somme and near Ynres.