The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1918-07-29

troops. continuing their pressure on
the Germans in retreat from the
Marine have reached and crossed the
Ourcq river and penetrated the town
Of Fere-en-Tardenois, one Of the great
German supply bases for the enemy
troops inside the Soisons,Rheims
salient. Meantime on the center OF
the allied right wing southeast of
RHEIMS violent attacks by the French
have forced the enemy TO give further
ground and enabled the French to
capture several towns OF strategic val
ne and TO draw their front appreciably
nearer the high road which runs
norlllcaatRardS from Dormans to
Rh9lll}tty SesSss
~ s3n the extreme wings of the gradu-
ally decreasing pocket-near Seasons
and Rheims-the enemy, heavily icin-
forced, is holding tenacioucly 10 his
ground, realizing that allied success
ses there would result in 1 general
crumbling Of his plans of defense
against the locking of his entire arm
les inside the big bag. In addition to
the large number of re-enforcements,
the German long range guns north of
'Soissons and north and northeast of
Rheims are keeping both wings of the
salient under heavy eniilading fire.
Under the battering tactics of the
Americans and Frenchmen the Ger
man line on the south has now been
driven back more than ~ miles from
the point south of Chateau Thierly At
which the allied troops locked The
door to Paris and against the enemy
Julp Is aud themselves became the ag-
gressors in which has turned out to be
one of the greatest battles OF the war
The crossing of the Ourcq. even if
only advanced elements OF the allied
forces. presages general crossing
later on. The French official com
munications thus far during the baltic
have been remarkably conservative in
their estimates of the gains that daily
have been made, and it is indicated in
unofficial dispatches that allied troops
are considerably in advance Of the
line as announced officially.
Where the Germans are in retreat
from the south the cavalry has been
brought into the lighting and Eunor-
OuS lduho anu llldNHlnt huho PAO7
fusion are everywhere harrying the
enemy, whose losses are heavy.
Meantime airplanes are flying over
the retreating hordes dropping bombs,
while the big allied guns from The
sides of the salient are keeping up
their intensive firing from all angles
into the densely congested area.
The retreat of the enemy has by no
means become rout and so long as
the picked troops around Soisons and
Rheims are able to keep well open
the mouth Of the bag through which
the Germans are falling back 1, Is ex
nected that the greater portion of the
armies of the crown prince will be SUE
cessful in reaching in order the line
where 1t is; intended for them to turn
and make a stand.
Just where this stand will be made
is pr0bematical. More than half the
pocket has been recantured by the
American. French, British and Italian
troops opposing the enemy and there
have as yet Geen no signs OF a let III
in the retrograde movement.
II, as some of the military critics
have suggested, Crown Prince Run
precht of Bavaria purposes to start al
offensive against the British in France
and Flanders as a diversion agains
the big battle now IN progress, n,
signs of it are apparent at present
What little fighting has been going OF
In this region has been in the nature
Of patrol raids, in which the Britisl
have taken number of prisoners AM
machine guns.
Coventry England, July 2g.-Th
strikers at a mass meeting decided 1
resume work Immediately in the mt
nitions plants.
London. July 29-The German r,
treat is continuing along the Who'll
line with the Allies closely In pursui
according to advices for the front r,
coiycd up to noon. The German
have succeeded In checking to ce
tain extent, but not stopping tn
French advance. The French are O
tho north bank OF the Ourcq. and
east they have secured the who
road between Rheims and Dormans,
The Germans are stubornly resis
ing and burning villages HeaN
lighting is stIll progressing south
Soissons In the Buzancy neighbo
hood. So far the French have mac
no progress there. Villages betwet