Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-08-07
RAIN AND FLOOD
HELP TO RETARD
ALLIED ADVANCE
Huns Heavily Shell Ameri-
cans and French on North
ern Bank of Vesle River.
,BOMBARD SOUTHERN LINE
OF RIVER TO NO PURPOSE
United States Gunners Return
Fire With Interest in
Fisnes o., tor.
AT LEAST $4,000 PRISONERS
Much Interest Attaches to Develop.
ments Between Montdidier s.
and Rheims.
AT LEAST $4,000 PRISONERS
Much Interest Attaches to Dcyelop.
ments Between Montdidier
and Rheims.
rBy Associated Pre,,l

tBy Associated Pressl
Conditions on the battle front along
the Vesle River between Scissors and
Rheims remain unchanged, and. rela-
tively speaking. there have been no
developments Of outstanding import
ance on the line running from the re-
gion Of Montdidier toward the English
Channel. In both regions, however.
there is tenseness which seems to
forecast the approaching dawn of big
events.
Tho bad weather-heavy rainfall..
the swollen rivers and the resultant
wretched condition OF the terrain with
which the allied troops along the Vesle
now have to contend, not to mention
the necessity of bringing up guns. am
munition and supplies which were left
far behind in the rapid advance
doubtless is having more to do with the
holding In leash OF Marshal Foch's
troops than the opposition tho German,
are throwing in their way. Vga
! The Germans have been shelllnx
heavily the American and French SOL
diers who have made their way across
to the northern bank OF the VesIe or
delivering heavy counterattacks against
them, but everywhere they have met
with stone wall OF resistance that
has not permitted them TO counter
| balance their losses Of ground.
ALLIES HOLD THEIR
GROUND EVERYWHERE
They also have deluged the south
ern line OF the stream with shells OF
Ia
and even have brought their famous
hame-throwers into play. but all to no
purpose. The allies everywhere have
remained firm in the ground they have
won.
But the Germans have not been per-
mitted by the allies to have a monopoly
OF the Initiative. Where they have
thrown shells against the Americans in
the Fismes sector. American missiles
have been returned with added inter-
est This particular sector has been
a veritable inferno. Gas in large auan-
titles was released against the Amer
| leans who, with their gas masks ad-
justed. were virtually unharmcd by the
noxious fumes. A kindly switch IN the
wind at one time even turned back
the gas against the enemy The
French also have answered the Ger
mans in kind.
ENEMY SUPPOSED TO BE
MOVING TROOPS BACK
During the hiatus In the fighting on
the Soissons- Rheims sector the Ger
mans are believed to be moving their
main bodies northward to the posi-
tions they have chosen for stand. and
doubtless the German Crown Prince
is endeavortng hastily TO reconstitute
az well as he may, with the forces at
his command. his badly shattered ar.
mics.
An inkling OF what the Germans
have lost in men made prisoner and
guns captured by the allies has become
public through an utterance of the
French Premier at a session OF the
ministerial council at which General
Foch was made a marshal OF France.
"Thirty-fve thousand prisoners and
700 cannon have been captured" de-
clared the Premier, who added that
Paris no longer was in danger, that
Soissons and Chateau-T hierry had been
reconauered and that 200 villages had
been delivered through the formidable
thrust OF Foch's men through the
SoissonsRheims salient
REALIGNMENT Of ENTIRE
FRONT If POSSIBLE
Much interest attaches to the man
euvers OF the Germans and the French
and British troops. with the latter 81
whom some Americans are believed to
be brigaded. on the front running from,
Montdidier to the region around Ypres
Ultimately the operations here may
have strong bearing on those now
in progress in the south. and, IL the
allies keep up their successful thrusts
and the Germans continue to Withdraw.
IL will compel realignment OF the en-
tire battle front.
The French north Of Montdidier have
crossed the west side of the Avre Riv-
CIR between Braohes and Morisel Here
fairly deep penetration Into the Ger
man line would become a direct mem
ace to the junction point OF the armies
of the German Crown Prince and OF
Crown Prince Ruppreeht On both
sides Of Amiens where the Germans
have given ground. they now are heav,