The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1918-07-30

Crown Prince Rupprecht Of Bavaria
Notwithstanding the fact that the
Germans have powerfully strengthen
ed their battle line running across the
Soissons-Rheims salient with addition
al fresh reserves and have stubbornly
disputed further passage northward to
the entente allied troops the enemy
front has been compelled to bend back
appreciably on all sides oft he salient
except at the anchor points resting inn
mediately on scissors and Rheims.
South of Soissons further wedges
have been driven eastward into the en-
emy front down to the Ourcq river;
eastwWd along the Ourcq French and
American troops have crossed the
stream at various points and advanced
thei rhine well to the northward, while
their line we'll to the northward, while
southwest of Rheims the allies have de
bouched from the wooded sectors and
gained the plains, Notwithstanding the
violence Of the enemy's counter man
euycrs. At some points the Germans
succeeded somewhat In checking the
forward movement. but nowhere were
they able to bring IL to standstill.
The retirement of the Germans still
remains orderly, but everywhere the
allied troops, and especially the Amer
leans near Fere-en-Tardenois are
pressing them hard, Particularly bit.
ter fighting has taken place around
Ferc-en-Tardenpis and at Sargy, both
Df which towns are now in the nands
of the French and Americans. At
Sergy the Germans paid the Ameri
cans the compliment of reinforcing
their battle line with two divisions
0f well tried Bavarian troops, inen
whose courage previously has been
tested when the tide of hattie was go
ing against the Germans. II vas an
effort either to destroy the Americans
or 10 herd them back across The Ourcq
The effort resulted in failure. The
battle line shifted back and forth and
Sergy changed hands four times, but
the Americans proved to be the mas
ters of the picked enemy troops and
finally drove them out and retrained
the village Heavy casualties were in.
flicted on the Germans.
The fighting in re.en.Tardenoi
also was of sanguinary character,
the opposing forces fighting in close
contact through the streets of the
town. but with the Germans being
gradually driven back under the ma.
chine gun fire of the French and
Americans or left weltering IN their
blood from contact with the cold steel
of the allied bayonets.
Immediately south of Scissors on
the western edge OF the salient the
Germans strove heroically to hold
back their enemies in order to prevent
the further nanking Of scissors and
the possible cutting OF of large forces
OF their men fighting along The Ourcq
south OF Oulchy-le Chateau. Scottish
troops, however, captured positions in
the outskirts of Buzancy just to the
west OF the SoissonsC Chateau Thierry
road, while further south the French
( overcame the resistance imposed
/ against them, crossed the high road
/ and took Grand Rosoy and Sugny
/ and the Butte ChalmOnt.
Southeast of Scissors. we'll inside
the salient and at present far out.
side the immediate battle zone, vari.
GUS towns and villages along the
/ Soissons-Fismes railroad are said to
| he in flames.
This seemingly would indicate that
/ the retirement of the Germans from
; the hig pOcket Is tO procepd still fur
/ thor northward before they intend io
halt il, face about and give battle Ia
/ the allied troops along chosen line
If the retreat on the west Is to he car,
/ ricd beyond the SOislus.Fismes line
it seems highly probable that II
is the intention Of rhe Germans tC
make their stand from Soissons east
warl along the Aisnc 10 Tho Vrs,c
river and thence southcas,ward tt
lao