The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-07-22
F0CH is SEEKING
| TO ENvEL0P ARMY
ON Marine RIVER
! Allied Attacks Near SOissOns
and Rheims Endanger Foe.
Blows North of Chateau Thier-
ry Forced Retirement.
RAILROADS ARE NOW ALL CUT
If Allied Advance Continues
Germans May Not Escape.
Jaws on Each Side Would Close
in Behind Them.
Blows North of Chateau Thier-
ry Forced Retirement.
RAILROADS ARE NOW ALL CUT
Jaws on Each Side Would Close
in Behind Them.

Rear guard actions are being fougnt
by the Germans north of Chateau
Thierry. These probably were organ
lied to delay the relentless pursuit by
the French and Americans, who on
Sunday morning passed thru Chateau
Thierry and advanced northeast OF
that corner stone of German conquest.
The reaction of the Germans is said
to have been marked between Grisolles
and Bezu-St. Germaine, two villages
north and northwest and mort of
Chateau Thierry at distances of APP
proximately seven and four miles, re-
spectively. Along the four-mile line
between Grisalles and Bezu-St. Ger
maine. German attacks were broken
and the allied line was maintained
thruout.,
North of Ourcq river and between
the Marne and Rheims, the reaction
of the enemy was limited to artillery
fire.
Advance South of Soissons.
South of Scissors. the Americans
are reported to have advanced mile
and a quarter. In the Ourcq valley
the allies are steadily pounding their
way toward Nanteuil-Notre L. me ana
southwest of Rheims there seems to
be an indication that the allles nave
initiated new drive for the purpose
of outflanking the Germans between
Maria uX ana oHdlilioh-
If this last movement develops, the
allies .-nutcracker' will be in full mo-
ton. Between the known allied front
south f Scissors and the town OF
BouilIy, southwest of Rheims. there Is
gap of about twenty-four miles.
This gap. however. probably Is much
smaller at present, for the allies po-
sitions south of Scissors seem likely
to have been advanced materially
since they were reported at Hartennes
on Saturday.
Three EnveIoping Movements.
There appear to be at least two.
and possibly three enveloping opera
| tions along the western side of the sa :
| lient south of Scissors. The first of
these evidenced by the breaking thru
| of the allies northwest of Chatea u
! Thierry. Sunday morning, had imme-
diate results in forcing the Germans
| back from the extreme tip of the sa =
lient The second enveloping move
ment is proceeding up the Ourcq val
| ley and at last accounts was very near
| Oulchy Chateau. The third is the ad-
vance of the allies south of scissors.
Thus far Foch was projected terta-
| cles forward to catch the Germans re-
tiring from the Marne. If another
| claw is thrust out from the Rheims
| salient the situation will become much
| more perilous for the enemy.
There are few details of the fight
| ing between the Aisne and the Ourcq.
| 1t appears. however, that the reported
| advance of the allies south of the
| Aisne below scissors is simply the
carrying out of the French strategic
plan of keeping the Aisne on the
French left flank. The actual occu-
patton of scissors would be of slight
importance in comparison to the de-
lmoralization or capture of the Ger
man armies to the southwark which
| appears to have been in General
| Foch's mind as a possibility when the
| smash on the German flank was be,
gun by General Mangin on Thursday
morning.
Huns Will Be Fortunate to Get Out
If the allied 'nut-eracker" contin-
ues to close in the remorseless man.
ner that it has for the last three days
the Germans will be fortunate If they
extricate all their forces from the
| Marne salient. Their railroad com.
| munications are virtually all under al
lied control or are under heavy fire
Continued allied successes. it might
appeal, would compel a German re
treat as far as the Vesle river If tn.
Germans are able to maintain this line
General Foch still will have succeeded
in Strengthening out this front, which
Will then run in an almost direct line
| from Montdidier to7the heights of the
| Meuse.
British. forces on the northern sid.
OF the Picardy sector have gained fur
ther ground near Hebuterne, Will,
east of Amiens. near Arras and In tn.
Lys salient, raiding operations charac
terized the activities of the British las
night.