The sun., 1918-07-30
French and Americans Bat
tling OH North Bank
of the Ourcq.
RESISTANCE STUBBORN
Enemy Desperately Seeks to
Delay Allies Till Army
Can Be Got Out.
FERE STREWN WITH DEAD
Both on Flanks and in Centre
Germans Give Ground
Stores Destroyed.
FERE STREWN WITH DEAD
Special Gable Despatch to THE SrH.
Gnnnrinhf 1ais. nil rinhfs rrsrrred

Copyright. 1915: all rights reSerred.
LONDON, July 20.-Three converg.
ing thrnsts are now being driven into
the German positions south of the
Vesle River, toward which the enemy
is sullenly retreating. fighting fierce
rear guard actions for the purpose Of
standing off the victorious advance
of the Allies until he can move as
many as possible of his men and
guns to new lines.
That the Germans are not likely
to attempt Ito hold any territory
south of the Vesle Is indicated by
the fact that fires were observed to-
day in the villages Of Chacrise,
Curry, Tannieries and others on the
edges of the plateau which lies be-
tween the Veshe and the Muze rivers.
Americana Regain serRy.
The enemy has lost his line at the
Ourcq and his line on the plateau
allied thrusts now under way. Tho
one in the centre has worked to ths
northeast Of Tardenois after
hard fghting In which American div,-
sions smashed strong counter attack
at Sergy. launched by a Prussian
Guard division, one of the best OF the
German fighting units Sergy changed
hands six times, but finally remained
in the hands of the French and Amer
leans
French and Americans are now ad-
vancing northward, and will attempt
to turn the German positions on one
side toward Scissors and on the other
toward the Ardre River. II is from
these two directions that other thrusts
are conyerging on Fismes, a big Ger
man supply centre. The British con-
tinue to press the enemy down the
valley of the Ardre which empties into
.he Vesle at Fismes.
Western Flank stnens.
On the western side the French are
attacking successfully north Of Grand
Rozoy, while at Buzancy. south of Sois.
held up the French advance, though
Scottish troops made a gain there.
All the way from the Ourcq River
to scissors the French pushed into the
German line OF defence. and eastward
along the river French and Americans,
operating for the most part on the north
bank. continued to drive wedges into
the enemy defenccs Southwest Of
Rheims the Allies swept around the
wooded sections and moved out onto
the plateaus, operations which did not
succeed until they had beaten off num-
erous dnd determined counter attacks
launched by the Germans. At some
points along the wide semicircle tho
Germans slowed up the allied advance,
but at no place did they bring it to
standsrill
Retreat sim Orderly.
The retreat of the enemy continues TO
be conducted in orderly fashion, not
withstandng terrific pressure exerted
by the French and Americans in tho
neighborhood OF Fere-en- -Tardeno.s
Hard hghting was in progress all day
around tho former German supply centre
and at the little town of Sergy.
At Sergy the Germans, recognizing
the driving force OF the Americans, at
tempted to teach them "A lesson" bv
bringing up two crack divisions of Prus-
sians-iron cross winners to the last
private--to hurl against the boys from
the other side OF the sea. with this re-
inforced opposition ahead OF them tina
: Americans hesitated but they did not
stop The Prussians had orders TO drive
the Americans back TO the south side OF
the Ourcq, and the success with which
they executed their orders may best be
measured by the simple statement that
the American positions tonight are st!ll
on the north side of the river.
Hundreds of Germans, all members
o: the crack Prussan regiments, lie
dead in the streets OF the hotly con-
tested village.
Hard Fighting mt Fere.
At Fere-en-T -Tardenois some of the
hardest fighting of the day took place.
Frequently during the day the soldiers
of the opposing armies were in close
contact. Gradually the Germans were
driven north under the heavy fire of the
sFrenca and Americans Every street In
the town was strewn with German dead.
Notwithstanding the setbacks suffered
by the Germans all along the line from
Scissors to Rheims, the official reports
issued In Berlin continue TO be optl-
mistic. although evidence Is now COM
ing out Of Germany that these reports
/ ire not as eagerly accepted and be-
iieved as the German General Staff would
| desire.
Almost categorically the Germans in