The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1918-08-02
GERMAN ARMIES
STILL RETIRING
DESPERATE RESISTANCE HOW.
EVER, HAS CONSIDERABLY
SLOWED ALLIED ADVANCE
GENERAL RETREAT EXPECTED
Small Forces OF Infantry Used by
Enemy on Some Sectors Believed
to Indicate Retirement From
Rheims scissors Salient
GENERAL RETREAT EXPECTED
(War Review for July 27)

(WdT REVIEW LOT July ~
The ninth day of the allied offensiv
Ia the Soissons-Rheims salient saw
lessening in the intensity of the bat
tie along the western side of TIL,
salient, where only mutual lombard
ments were in progress Along tn,
Marine, however, and southwest o.
Rheims, the Franco-Americans, Brit
fish and Italian troops were still al
deadly grips with the enemy on vari
GUS sectors.
The Germans strove hard in the
forest region north of the Marine to
hold back the French and American
trops debouching from the woods in
however, everywhere was forced
slightly farther back to the north, and
the forests now have been almost en-
tirely cleared of Germans.
Southwest of Rheims heavy rein
forcements evidently have been
thrown along the front, where the
British, French and Italians are fight
Ing. In the immediate region of
Reuil, where the battle line turns
sharply toward Rheims, the French
have captured several important
points of vantage, including the vii
tage of Reuil and also advanced their
line northward, Notwithstanding the
violence of the German counter move.
To the northeast, where the Ger
mans are facing the British, the Ger
mans have recaptured Merry and Hill
eo4 but the British have retained their
hold on Vrigny and most of the other
territory taken in that region.
Eastward irons Rheims in Cham
payne the French have now regained
nearly all their old line positions and
daily are harassing the Germans
with counter attacks.
Before the fighting died down along
the western side of the Rheims-Sois-
sons salient, the villages of Oulchy-
Le-Chateau and Villemontoire were
captured by French and American
troops who advanced their lines east
ward of Oulchy. The fall of Oulchy
gives the allied forces the key to the
heights dominating Percent arde-
MOS, which lies only short distance |
to the east. At Oulchy 40 guns and |
hundreds of prisoners were captured |
by the American and French troops.
Big allied guns have been pulled up
in this region and are heavily she'll
Ing the sectors before them over which
it is purposed TO push forward for
the capture of Fere-en-Tardenois when
the time is ripe.
Meanwhile allied big guns over the
.ntire salient continue to throw shells
rom all angles into the German
'orces inside the big bag.
While there has been no attempt by
he Germans at general retreat from
he salient, the belief prevails along
he battle front that an indication that
retreat is purposed is shown by the
act that the enemy is using compare
lively small forces of infantry on {
-arious sectors under attack, depend
ng mainly on his machine gunners to
etard the progress of the allies.
In France and Flanders the British {
ave been compelled to withstand sew
raj violent attacks by the Germans
ear Hebuterne and in the vicinity of
1eteren. The enemy in both sectors
Tas repulsed with heavy casualties. [
On the other battle fronts the mill {
lry activity is nominal although con- I
derable fighting continues in Mace
onia and Albania, with the allied n
oops holding the upper hand. d