Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1918-07-31
TRAP ON FOE IS
T|GHTENED: FERE
UNDER HEAVY FIRE
Foch Closes Net on 100000
Germans.
FOE IN RACE FOR AISNE
Allies Within Three Miles of Great
Hun Communication Center
French and British Advance
West of Reims as Yanks
Go Forward.

Paris July 6.-Franco-American
| troops made an advance of nearly two
miles at certain points on the Aisne-
Marine front. notably in the Dornans
region, says the war Office. Additional
gains are reported, Showing the prog
ress Of the allies in this salient is
steadily going on.
French troops are now within three
miles of Fere-en-Tardenois. The town
is being heavily shelled and bombed
by entente allied air squadrons.
The Americans also are moving on
Fere-en-Tardenois, advancing north
and northeast of Chateau Thierry.
The entire Reims-SoissOns pocket is
now under heavy shell fire from
French, American and British guns.
With the British and French advanc-
ing west Of Reims and the French and
Americans driving ahead on the east
ern side of the salient, the position of
the enemy on the front south of the
Aisne may be said to have become I'M
tenable for the German army.
100000 Germans Trapped.
Fere-en-Tardenois Is the central
point of all the German communion
tions in the Soissons-Reims salient.
and its loss or destruction would be
tremendous blow to the enemy.
Estimates of the number of German
troops in the entire pocket vary, but
the number is estimated at least 500,-
600. Destruction of Fere-en-Tardenois
or its capture by the allies would put
enormous forces-especially those
south of the town-in a critical pre-
dicament.
Unofficial reports make it appear
that not only are the allies rapidly
continuing the process of ousting the
Germans from the pocket, but that a
movement may be in process of execu-
ton by means of which L is hoped to
trap a goodly section of the German
crown princes army.
British and French troops have ad-
vanced to Gueux and Merry Premecy
In the battle sector just west of Reims.
East of Reims a Polish contingent,
attached to the French, made a sue
cessful enterprise and captured 213
prisoners.
The new line shows an advance of
about two miles toward Fismes. This
gain when seen on the map is of evil
dent Importance, for Il greatly mar
rows the salient created by the Ger
mans in their drive of last May.
Once Tismes Is taken. escape of the
German forces below the Vesle will be
impossible.
The advance is along a front of
three miles. The town of Gueux lies
to the south of the River Vesle and is
about five miles directly west of the
Cathedral city. Mery-Premecy is a
short distance north of the Fismes-
Pargny railroad and is about ten and
one-half miles southeast of Fismes,
which is the center of a line running
between scissors and Reims.
The newest advantage of the en-
tente allies has pulled the eastern edge
of tn pocket eight miles to the west
ward, making Mery-Premecy the mark
err for the eastern rim.
The mouth of the pocket is now only
20 miles wide and the whole district
between the two sides is under the
range of entente allied guns.
Even If the mouth of the funnel re-
tains its present width the continued
contracting of the allied tentacles on
the TANKS will spell disaster for the
crown princes army.
Yanks Take Two Towns.
With the American Army, July 26.-
| BY series of connected local actions
the Americans succeeded in pushing
| forward their line running through the
region of Breezy, Forest de Fere, and
Forest de Riz. We gained as much as
four kilometers at these points.
French troops in the region of Oul-
chy-le-Chateau and the Americans to
the south are slowly crushing in upon
Fere-en-Tardenois. from which the
Americans are now about eight kilo-
meters. The Germans are withdraw
ing material from the town, where
several fires are burning now.
| Franco American troops to the right
of Forest de Riz made good progress.
The American advance netted two
towns, the names of which cannot be
mentioned until after the French com
munique records them.
In one Of these towns the Germans
had placed machine gun positions in
and about large church. Our troops
took possession of the strong position
on large farm amidst the Forest de
| Fere.