Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-07-27

lhdl lrOm lne MaTne loWdi uo
Rheims.
Along the western side of the
German salient there is no official
mention of events of especial inn
portance during last night. 1t is
reported that French and Americans
wer@ attacking the enemy this
morning, centering their efforts on
the work of clearing the Germans
out of the wooded areas to the
south and southwest of Fere-en-
Tardenois. This was said to have
been nearly accomplished.
Stubborn Retreat
In spite of the general eXpecta-
ton that the Germans are fighting
on the southern side of the salient
to cover the retreat of their armies
and the salvaging of the vast sup
plies piled up along the Marne in
preparation for the great offensive
which began on July Is, there ap-
pears to be a disposition in part of
some of the military experts to con-
slider the possibility of a new Ger
man attack somewhere on the bat
/ tleline between scissors and Rheims,
The stubborn manner in which the
enemy has been fighting, and his
failure TO attack on some other sec
tor points, it is contended, to the
fact that the Germans are commit
ted to a renewed offensive along the
Marne in the hope of still winning
a victory there.
British Front Active
Along the British 'front.' near
Arras and Lens, and along the
Somme sector, the German artillery
/ has been active. British raiding
parties have been active at various
points along the lines.
A lull, probably only for few
hours, has interviewed in the des-
| perate battle in the Marne salient.
The allied offensive, although un-
checked by the Germans, has slowed
down. Enemy counterattacks have
ceased for the moment.
Meanwhile, the allied artillery is
pouring a heavy fire on the German
bases, depots and lines of communi-
cation within the pocket between
| Rheims and Soissons. The entire
region is within the range of the
big guns and, as on the previous
days, they continue to hammer the
enemy increasingly, Allied airmen
have increased the intensity of their
bombing operations. AS a result,
the Germans within the pocket pos
sibly are no better off than during
the period of fighting around the
| ever-narrowing edges.
Guns Dominate Base
From the Ourcq to the Marine and
along the Marne the Germans nave
been cleared almost entirely from
I fe forests and the
Tournelle wood and now stand with
their backs against the virtually
| clear plateau between Fere-en-Tar-
| denois and Ville-en-T -Tardenois. The
allied lines are within a few miles
of these places and Fere, originally
| the most important southern base,
| is of no use to the enemy, allied
guns dominating the town and the
diverging roads This situation was
| improved further for the allies by
the capture of Villemontoire and
| Oulchy-le- Chateau, which the Ger
mans have made no attempt to re-
| take.
Almost all the progress Friday
was made in the wooded areas
10 the north of the Marne and be-
tween the Marne and the Ourcq
| Using as small a number of men as
.
artillery and machine guns to halt
| the French and Americans, but they
pushed on and chased the Germans
| to the northern edges. Local show
ers fell over much of the battle area
Friday.
Huns Hate to Withdraw
1t is believed the German Crown
Prince, continues to withdraw hi:
/ 1t,nnIfaG from tho Gallant
More fires have been seen and explo'
sions heard within the enemy lines
To withdraw would be an admission
by the Crown Prince that he haC
met with serious setback. There
probably would be a drop in the
German morale and the German
command may prefer to hold or
rather than to admit defeat. From
a military standpoint, the Germans
| would improve their position If they
retired to the Vesle.
All the ground gained along the
Marne in the onslaught of July /;
has been lost by the Germans eX
cept a stretch of eight miles.
East of Rheims. in Champagne
General Gouraud has been busy anC
has reoccupied his former first lint
east of the Suippes. The advance
measures more than 500 yards on &
front of over ten miles and includes
the recapture of the Main de Mas
siges. In the operation the French
took 1900 prisoners. Paris las
night also reported the capture Of
700 prisoners on the western flank
of the salient, making a total Of
$500. The latest estimate of Ger.
man prisoners taken since July 1S
is 10000.
German Towns Bombed
On the other sector in France the
allies await German thrusts. There
is strons belief in some quarters
that the enemy will strive to ease
the situation north of the Marne by
/ a strong attack elsewhere, but
nothing has materialized. The Ger.
mans have failed to repeat theiI
futile attack against the British In
Flanders and their attempted raidi