The sun., 1918-07-29
NO SIGN OF HALT
IN GERMAN FLIGHT
Franco American Troops
Rapidly Clearing Bot
tom Of Salient.
OUR TROOPS ADVANCING
Occupy Number Of Villages
About Six Miles North Of
the Marine.
OUR TROOPS ADVANCING
BY the Associated Press.

FRANCE, July 2S..--The German line Is
again north OF the Ourcq River, and
Fere- n-Tardenois, which has been
entered by French troops. Ia at the
mercy Of the Allies. The Tightening OF
the tanks holds promise that the re-
treat will be continued.
The line along the greater part OF the
bottom Of the Soissons-Rheims salient
has been pushed forward In some places
as much as five miles.
The Germans are bringing into play
their artillery In force to check the
plunges OF the Franco American troops.
The Americans have played brilliant
part In the advance, which included the
occupation Of Sergy, on the north bank
Of the river. and a number of small VII
lagos.
The line tonight follows the Ourcd
River to Sergy and to Goussancourt. the
latter place lying about six miles north
of the Marine.
The Germans offered bitter resistance,
but not to compare with that which be-
gan late to-day for the retention OF the
higher ground further north Of the river.
There they supplemented their defence
with artillery fire reaching over the
American front lines to the supports,
the volume of fre at times attaining
enormous proportions
Unwaveringly the Americans held
their ground and even advanced slightly.
while the French on their sectors to the
right and left resisted as steadily against
the vicious efforts OF the Germans.
From behind the advancing lines the
allied heavy guns kept up continuous
bombardment throughout the day. she'll
ing the German positions wherever the
airmen reported troop concentrations.
Heavy artillery has been used 10 some
extent by the Germans In their rear
guard actions, but to no such extent as
to-day. and this gives some basis for
belief that Won Boehm, the German
commander, is preparing to make
stand. II is pointed out however. that
until the Adre River is reached all the
advantages of ground are with the AL
lies. So II lie generally believed that
the dropping back OF his heavy guns Is
merely an indication that his armies are
being Withdrawn with all speed from a
position which Is intolerahle and which
unless relieved might result in the dis
organization Of what so far has been an
admirably conducted retreat.
Americans Cross River.
The Americans began their advance
on Sergy early in the morning. They
had been driven back a short distance
Saturday night. but when they moved
| this morning under cover of the artillery
"a few pieces going forward with the
| advanced line-they proceeded almost
unchecked to the river crossed the
| bridge. and occupied the town about
| mid forenoon
The Germans used gas. but the at
lacking party long aen had had It's
baptism of gas fumes and knew how to
utilize the masks and to avoid the ra-
vines through which the fumes filtered.
When the town was occupied there was
some street fighting. but not much. the
Germans retreating to higher ground
Until to-day the wounds received by
the American soldiers have not been
serious as a rule. on account of the
failure OF the Germans to use artillery.
great majority of the wounds were
clean flesh wounds. made by bullets
from machine guns and rifles.
Considerable material has been cap
tured. including n few locomotives which
the Germans put out of commission
There were relatively few prisoners.
Many stories are told along the old
lines of the depreciation In the German
morale. Greatest Significance is at
tached 10 a letter taken from an officer,
written by his brother in Germany Civ
ing 1t as his opinion that a revolt was
imminent unless the war was stopped.
The battle of the woods" has ended
and the Germans have been swept from
the forests OF Fere and Riz Towar
the last OF this four day struggle the
Franco American advance became 30
rapid that the retreat Of the Germans
was greatly disorganized
The edge of the German salient to
the south and southeast of Fere-en-
Tardcnots was ground down by the
whirl of the allied troops and dulled to
an extent that German weakness was
indicated at many points. The first
indication of this was seen Saturday
when the enemy retreated so rapidly
that the Franco American troops en-
tirely lost contact with him.
Machine Guns In Trees.
In the battle of the woods however.
the stffest resistance the Americans
ever experienced in this kind of war
fare was encountered Here the Franco
American troops were compelled to con-
tend constantly with n rearguard action
consisting principally of machine gun
ners, most Of whom. dressed in green
clothing. had nests In trees. Day after
day during the fighting the allies troops
bucked the German machine gun nests
using artillery and machine guns and
some gas against them.
In the rearguard lighting. which was
carried on 20 permit the withdrawal of
the heavier German guns. the enemy re-
sorted TO numerous tricks. such as car
ryIng machine guns IN stretchers when
endeaVorInR to reach points under the
allied fire, When they realized that
their stretCher trick had been discovered
the Germans resorted to other means to
deceive.
The Franco American infantrymen
and machine Eunners were notified by
their commanding officers TO be on tho
alert for Germans wearing American or
French uniforms, several instances hav-
ing been reported where the Germans
did this. on one occasion the soldiers
were notified by field orders that Ger
mans had appeared In the TUNES Of
French and American soldiers.
Rushing across an open place In the
forest when the German nests had been
discovered. one German, acting az a
leader ard speaking perfect English,
yelled to the American machine gunners
Don't shoot, there are Americans in
that thlcket"
The Americans were at the edge OF
forest. peppering a wood opposite,
They ceased when the detachment an
peared. The detachment entered a
forest to the right OF the Americans
and In few minutes a hail Of ma
china gun bullets came from that di-
rection.
The Americans quickly realized that
they had been duped, and turned their
machine guns upon the impostors.
wiping them out IN short order
Intelligence officers In the American
Army say numerous cases have been
reported by soldiers OF being encoun-
tered in1lNiHnnl ri