The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1918-08-03
GERMANS IN FULL RETREAT
BURNING VILLAGES AS THEY GO
ASSOCIATED PRESS
SUMMARY OF The WAR
(Rv Associated Press.l

soissons has fallen and the Ger
man salient south of the Aisne
seems to be doomed.
Allied hammer blows have had
their effect and the Germans are re-
tiring precipitateIy toward the north.
French, American and British troops
are moving forward rapidly and
continue theft pressure strongly at
on a front of 35 miles from
| northwest of Soissons - TO Rheims
the allied advance already averages
more than three miles on the en-
tire distance. American troops in
the center gained more than five
miles: CaVal Try again is being used
for the first time since the open
on on July Is.
While the German Crown Prince
made strong efforts to maintain a
front between Fere- en- T Tardenois
and Vile en- T ardenois his position
was made untenable by the allied
success earlier in the week in which
tn Americans played no small part.
His center was smashed at a vital
point and the southern end Of the
western flank was turned by the
French and British capture Of the
RETREAT INEVITABLE.
Retreat was inevitable with allied
pressure giving no sign of letting
up. So the allies are moving north
ward along the whole front, captur-
ing guns and materials and prob
ably many prisoners cut off in the
valleys and woods which fill the ter
rain between the Aisne and the
Marine.
Latest unofficial reports placed
the advancing French, American and
British soldiers on a line from Pom
miers TO Scissors TO BeIIeau, the
valley Of the Crise, Chaerise, Aroy-
t-Restioue, LoupisqneS Mareuil zen"
Dole, Dravesny, Moine wood, Lhery,
ra TraamerX tl JresIoG, II ss.,, e"eTx =; ;ThiIoo'
what north of the line as reported
in the French official statement Fri
day night but most probably indi-
Gates the gains made later. This
line has a slight curve as compared
to the original pocket and virtually
wipes out the fIanI<s east and west.
Fismes the main German base on
the vesle is six miles north Of Moine
wood through which French cavalry
is reported 60 have penetrated. Large
fires have. been seen at various
pecially near Fismes. Heavy expIo-
sions also have been heard indicat-
ing that the Germans are preparing
60 fall back still farther north.
Southeast of Scissors the French
and British have been advancing
against more or less opposition. The
French and Americans in the CEN
ter are reported to have met with
slight German resistance after the
stubborn fighting Of previous days
ia The reqiona east Of Fere. South |
west Of Rheims, the advance also has
been slower than in the center.
FALL OF soissoNs.
The fall of Soissons, which had |
been in the hands of the Germans
since May % is a serious menace
e the lines OF the vesle and TO the
line OF the Aisne, as the French also |
have moved forward three miles on
the north bank of the Aisne 10 POM
niers.. At no place are the Eroops
OF General Mangin, General De-
goutte and General Berthelot more
than seven miles from the railway
line paralIelina the Vesle and allied
gums are hammering il hard on the
ends ard probably in The center.
I'M che first battle of the Marine
the ernans found Eenable posi- |
tion tween the Aisne and the
heights Of Cbenrin des DANES. From
present indications 1t is not unlikely |
General Focr can drive them back aE !
least that far this time. The elm |
ination Of the fIanks apparently does |
away with any hope OF capturing
any great portion Of the German |
force as seemed likely two weelSs
ago. Most important has been the
OF German divisions used |
up in the fighting and which has
not ended.
DesultorY fighting, 10 the way in
which Berlin officially describes the
CONTINUED on page 30