The Washington herald., 1918-07-31
FRANCO-YANKS
MAKE PROGRESS
AT TARDENOIS

CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE
of shock reserves has been decided
upon by Ludendorff.
Boche Losses Terrinc.
The German losses are described
in all front dispatches as appalling.
Many divisions are said to have
companies of only thirty to nifty
men left.
CNote: The normal complement of a
German company is 25Ol>
The main force and fury of todays
German counter-attacks on the crown
princes right were concentrated
against the Americans north of Ourcq.
There between the villages of Ser
inges and Cierges, a 4-mile front run
ming parallel with the Treloup-Fere-
en-Tardenois highroad, picked Ger
man shock battalions made desperate
efforts to break through. throw the
Americans back across the Ourcq, and
regain Fere.
Celges Yielded.
After exacting a fearful toll from
the Teutons the Americans yielded
the ruins of Cerges. but Immediately
west and south fthe former hamlet
today were getting ready to retake
Cierges, which lies about FIVE and a
half miles southeast of Fere-en-Tar-
denois on the northern end OF this
line, around Seringes the Yankees
fully held their own against unceasing
German counter-thrusts. In the CEN
ter, around Sergy. they did not bulge.
Beugneux Lost and Retaken.
On the left, Mangin's French troops
had to Withstand an equally terrific
counter-hammering from the Ger
mans. Northeast of Oulchy-le-Cha-
teau, yesterdays advance had car
ried the Poilus beyond Grand Rosoy
as far as. Beugneux This village they
had to yield later, but their line. on
the whole, held. Later cabled word
comes from the front that Beugneux
has been retaken by the French.
VIGOR OF GERMANY SUB
The reason for the vigor of the
German counter attacks in this Sec
tor Is that a few miles more prog
ress by the French will put the lat
ter in possession Of the plateau be-
tween the Ourcq and the Vesle. and
give them additional ground from
which ii sweep the German commu-
nications with their "seventy-fiyes."
Another storm center below Sois-
sons is Buzancy. where the slightest
French penetration would threaten
to cut behind the rear of the Ger
man pocket.
Meanwhile a bitter struggle went
on throughout the day on the
southern tip of the German left.
around Ville-en-Tardenois, which is
to that German front what Fere-en-
Tardenois was to their right, on the
s"uthwest. Unoff1cial dispatches
late today said Rohnigny, a mile and
a half rom Vile, had been taken by
the French. Earlier advices had re-
ported French progress in the Ardre
Valley. toward Aubilly Village,
northeast of Willie.
To Stabilize Situation.
The impression is gaining ground
among military observers here this
evening that the aim of today's
counter attacks is to stabilize the
situation along about the line as it
stood this morning. Others, how
ever, think that 1t would be folly
for the Germans to stand where they
are now, and that they must either
go forward again and at least re-
capture Fere, or retreat back to
the Vesle or Aisne heights. These
critics argue that the communica-
tions the crown prince has for his
present lineup are entirely too poor
and too exposed to Justify his hold
ing out'where he now stands.
Leading Paris newspapers counsel
sobriety Of judgment and warn
against expecting too much from the
last two weeks victories. They en-
phasize the enormous advantages al
ready gained by them, and recall the
recent semi-official warning that this
was never meant to be the decisive
grand counter offensive.
Huns Lost Advantage.
The Germans have been deprived
Of all the fruits of their two drives
to and across the Marne. II is point
importance for 1t at the same time
ed out, and that Is of the unnosr
removes the Teuton menace from
Paris and dire danger from the
French armies between Rheims and
Verdune, which would have been
hopelessly isolated had the crown
prince succeeded in his drive on
Chalons.
French sentiment generally Ia that
the, tide Of the war has turned in
favor Of the allies. but It Is realized
on all sides that The dfef;o,It;.- -