The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-07-26
TW0-m|LE Cain
MADE BY FOCH;
FISMES PERILED
Allied Trap Drawn Tight; Yanks
Sweep Huns Off Feet; Get
Two Towns.
GERMANS RACE FOR AISNE
Fere Under Fire of Big Guns-French
and British Advance West of
Reims as the Americans
Go Forward.

With the French Army in France
July 26.-Up to the present 20 Ger
man divisions have been identified in
the present fighting zone, and the bat
tie therefore may be regarded as the
biggest since the beginning of the war
1t Is estimated unofficially that the en-
emy losses are more than 100000, of
which $4,000 were inflicted by the
Americans. More than 500 cannon and
thousands of machine guns have been
captured.
Paris, July 26.-Franco-American
troops made an advance of nearly two
miles at certain points on the Aisne-
Marne front. notably in the Dormans
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-S -Soissons pocket is
now under heavy shell fire from
French. American and British guns.
With the British and French adyanc-
ing west of Reims and the French and
Americans driving ahead on the east
oi1 90 xho ~
the enemy on the front south Of the
Aisne may be said to have become un-
tenable for the German army.
100000 Germans Trapped.
Fere-en-Tardenois Is the central
point Of all the German communica-
tions in the SOissons- Reims salient,
and It's loss or destruction would be a
tremendous blow to the enemy.
Estimates of the number of German
troops In the entire pocket vary, but
the number is estimated at least 5OO,-
600. Destruction of Fere- e-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
movement may be in process of execu-
tion by means Of which It 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 Reirns 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 evi-
dent Importance, for it greatly mar
rows the salient created by the Ger
mans In their drive Of last May.
Once Ffsmes is taken, escape of the
German forces below the Vesle will be
impossible.
The advance Is along q 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
short distance north of the Fismes-
Pargny railroad and is about ten and
one-half miles southeast of Fismes,
which Is the center of 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
er 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 o.
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-Aneriean troops to the rieht