Evening star., 1918-07-23
Retreat Several Miles Deep.
Prepare for Retreat.

FRENCH ARMY HEADQUARTERS.
July 22. via Ottawa.-North of the
Marne the Germans are making prepa-
rations for further retreat In the
adro snds on she Ms ssae ans the
salient, the enemy 10 blowing up mu-
milton dumps and burning stores
which they have not had time to re-
move. The enemy's position is in .
heavy wooded and broken country,
shape to use.
To feed the Soissons-Marne front
the Germans have only one railway
line fronf the Aisne In the neighbor-
hood of Bourg to Bazoches where 1t
joins the main line of the Soissons-
is condition for use for certain dis-
tance on either side of Baxoches. but
the junction there is being bombed
constantly.
The remaining forces Of the enemy
may possibly fall back to the line Of
the commanding plateau surrounding
the Criso and. Vesle valleys.
The hercest fighting continued
throughout the day on both wings
Of the German salient. The efforts
an attempt to prevent the allied
troops from cutting through ON either
side and thus tmperiIing the great
masses Of German troops still within
the semi-circle.
French. American and British troops
all made progress.
Key to Foe Position.
The region immediately south Of
Scissors forms the key to the Ger
man position. and here the enemy has
concentrated heavy forces for the
purpose OF holding back the advanc-
ing tide Of the allies. The latter, how
ever. continue their progress Though
the fighting Is becoming heavier each
hour. They have taken a large num-
ber OF prisoners, the humber being
more than has been announced, and
new patches Of captives are arriving.
The number OF unwounded prisoners
alone far exceeds the total casualties
OF the allied troops since the victo-
rtous advance began.
The correspondent has seen q large
column OF these prisoners coming in.
and from their appearance, they were
certainly picked men.
The number OF undamaged cannon
taken by the allies is very large AID
is constantly increasing. while at ths
same time large quantities of amrnu-
milton have been captured.
The advance Of the armies COM
manded by Gen. Mangin and Gen. de
Goutte on this flank averages ten
kilometers. while Gen. Berthelot, who
is smashing at the other side Of the
pocket containing the defeated Ger
mans. II also progressing appreciably.
The French. Americans and British
are working in closest cooperation
and with absolute confidsnce.
Hand-to-Hand ConAact.
BY the Associated Press. AZ, 81 Il
WITH THE FRENCH ARMY ON
THE AIsNE-MARNE FRONT. Mon
day. July 22Probably the heaviest
fighting today occurred on the east
ern wing Of the salient, where Brit
ish troops took part The Britishers,
who had arrived ON the scene only
recently. engaged the enemy In q
hand-to-haud conflict In the extreme-
" wooded region southwest Of
-Four fresh diyisicns fscsds thsm.
One German division which had held
the line against the Italians has been
annihfIated. only . few hundred re-
manning. The Germans had large
number Of machine guns In this viclu-
ity, but the British captured forty OF
them IN this course OF 3 strong attack
In which they made pfogress and took
more than 100 prisoI1ers. 4.
factpry for the Gllfes; who are fhReAf-
eutng the German communication
eyarywhere There Il every reaeon to
b5liavo that tho Germans are hurfYs
ing forward more divisions ID ada 10
The ~ tR4E sh4ye EeAdT AfosEn
- - K a