Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-07-24
ALLIED AVIATORS
HARASS GERMANS
Bomb Roads Filled With
Transport and Retiring
Troops
CAVALRY BEING USED
By G. H. PERRIS
Special Gable to Evening Public Ledger
COPYRIGHT. 1918. By Nc,n York Times Co.
with the French Armies, July "a.

!
| Copyright. 1918. By NcD York Times Co.
with the French Armies. July "a.
While the Allied infantry and gun.
| ners have been pressing the enemy on
three sides, airmen have harried his
! retreat and the lines Of communica.
| ton which have been crowded with
transport services and retiring troops.
! The country roads offer ready targets
| for the Allied bombing machines and
aerial machine gunners. Great fires
! at Fere and F'ismes show how the
Germans central arteries Of traffic
| must be tormented
As yet we have only small detach-
ments north of the Marine to the east
Of Jaulgonne and their increase meets
| with fierce resistance, but the pressure
| continues all along the line. 1t was
| hindered somewhat yesterday by a
curtain Of fire and rain that makes
observation difficult.
The western attack progresses slow
| ". but steadily. On the north we
| have taken Buzancy and are on the
western edge of Hartennes to the east
| of ROXY and close to Oulchy Chateau.
| General de Goutte's forces have passed
the high road and railway in the
Ourco Valley at Breny. have reached
| Roucourt and are fighting in the
Chatelat Wood. Thence the line runs
| in front of Epieds to the north Of
Jaulgonne and touches the wooded
promontory of Riz.
Retreat Is AcCentuated
The German retreat from the Marne.
as we know from aviation reports.
was accentuated Monday. Rear guards
strong enough to check pursuit Of the
movement We're left on the hills Of
| the north bank. east Of Mont st. Pere.
bodies Of troops succeeded in crossing,
and villages We're soon occupied
In the afternoon small cavalry pa.
| trolls and air scouts were sent off to
the north and east, and thev reported
| that King Wood and Baslieux were
held by small enemy rear guards.
The whole river valley. in fact. has
been abandoned. save by some flying
| columns, strongly supported with ma
|
charged from the heights to harass Gen.
eral de Mitry's army whenever 1t sought
| to make a passage.
As the French and American forces of
| General de Gouette's army reached the
Scissors C Cha teau-Thlerry road during
the day on both sides Of the village OF
Rocourt-St. Martin and captured the
village Of Epieds. while other detach.
ments pushed north of Mont st. Pere
| this resistance further east could he only
a delaying measure to enable Won
material.
The retreat will now pass over more
level and open country. and. pressed al
once on the west and the south. 1t Is
difficult to see how II can be arrest ed
short Of the line Of Vesle. This develop
ment adds to the interests OF the great
fight
British Fight at Marfaux
British divisions have been putting up
at the head Of Ardre Valley on the east
flank of Won Boehm's army. the battle
Of Marfaux. as 1t may perhaps be called.
I visited this sector Monday afternoon
and found the Highlanders and regi-
ments from several English counties
with some Anzacs tired and grimy, but
full of cheerful confidence and carrying
on with more success than when I re-
ported previously. 1t was however, a
mistake to say that the Chaumuzy, a
mile northwest of Marfaux. had been
taken.
Pressure of the Scotch battalions
which captured Courmas and Bouilly
must soon relieve this situation at the
center. and fresh attack Monday eve
ming may already have done so. Two
hundred prisoners were brought in Mon
1 ii.
days Of about 700. They confirm the
statement that many German divisions
have been suffering from the epidemic
of Spanish influenza.