Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1918-07-26
STRUGGLING TO
CHECK RETREAT
German Army Making Desper-
ate Effort to Offset Crushing
Blows of American and Al
lies on Western Front.

Washington, July 24.-Massed
German reserves arc holding oncn
the jaws of the trap General Foch
nus sprung in the Aisne- Marne re
gion' IN desperate effort to sta
Dillze their lines without the crush-
ing of the forces withdrawing from
the Chalenu Tkicrry and Morne
salients. Official report to the Wnr
department, however, shows that the
enemy has only n single railway line
remaining in his hands over which
TO get his heavy material out of the
pocket INTO which he has been forced
ny Aiiied ana American advances.
The situation was graphically OK
plnined today by General March,
chlei OF staff, in mid-week CEN
dents. For the last two days. Cen
erai March said, the employment of
probably fifteen divisions of fresh
German reserves on the scissors iaw
|ot che trap has practically steadicd
The line there. On the eastern Jaw
lion,, however, Tie enemy has been
crushed back moro than a milo and
half on u tcn-milc front, further
lmpcriling his whole position in the
salient from which he Is endeuvoring
TO cXtricatc his troops
Rnilrond Controlled.
"The railroad running from So;s-
sons to Chateau Thcrry in now
either in our hands or under ON.
IRE" General March said. "rhc only
way in which the enemy can yet out
now or get supplies over IL railroad
Is ny The remaining line from Nam
teuil or the Ourcq TO Bazoches on tho
river Vcslc.
III was necessary for him., if he
did not intend to be cnurht nbsolu-
te!ly in Il pocket, to keep troops from
advancing and cutting Off this road,
which would put him entirely at the
mercy Of the Allied forces"
General March did not Indicate
what development the con.inucd bat
tie all along the front of Tho greatly
lcduccd German salient might he ex-
Ieetcd to produce. Among other Of
liccrs, the opinnon prevailed that
General Foch was rushing forward
mnsscs of heavy artillery, which
with nirplmca would pound the in
lerior of the German positions from
three sides
Losses viii BE Great.
AS these officers see TIE situation
the very strength of the German
lines now established will make his
losses great from the concentrated
fire of the Allied artillery and air.
craft. The enemy force occupy II
wedge, the center of which is less
than fifteen miles distant from tho
hard pressing lines of the Allies Mt
amy point. All his communication
lines nrc within gun rnngc, once the
heavies" get up behind the Allied
lines.
There is another considerations
Lacking railway lines on which to
manuever, the enemy probably is
making desperate efforts, TO gct his
biggest guns away safely. The at7
railways on which long range weap-
ons on railway mounts can be shut
tied back and forth ut will. IL is re-
called that the German attack on
Chateau Thicrry little more than u
week ago was accomplished by the
fire of big naval gins, shells from.
which fell ten and fifteen miles be-
hind the lines.
Staving Off Attacks.
The bitterness CT the battle around
Chateau Thierry and along that por-
tion of the north bank Of the .Marne
ing probably is largely due to his de-
termination to stave off Franco
American attacks from the south at.
least until the big weapons have been
dragged back to safety The Amer
lean advances reported today thu ough
Chatclet forest and to the northeast
Of Epieds is beginning to menace
seriously enemy positions further
eastward on the Marne which are
covering his withdrawal within the
salient.