Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-07-29
OURCQ is CROSSED
BY ALLIED TROOPS


coming all obstacles here and Sc
cured a foothold on the northern
bank, where they present a seri-
Gus menace to the enemy.
(Associated Press.)
North of the Marine, the tide of
German invasion is fast ebhing.
The fact that a general retreat in
this region is going on is not ques-
toned, and the only question of
up is the location OF the position
at which the enemy will turn at
bay.
Since Saturday morning, there
have been important changes in
the battle line between Scissors
and Reims. Today it runs almost
directly east from Ouchv-Le-Cha-
teau to Fere-Eu -Tardenois, then
| crosses the OurcQ and continues
eastward until it reaches the Dor
-Reims road northwest OF
Reims mountain.
VIII Retire to VesIe.
1t had been contended by mill
tary experts that the Germans
might elect TO stand on the line OF
the Ourcq river, from which their
heavy cannon might dominate the
Paris-Chalons railroad along the
Marine. This idea is now proved
/ erroneous. 1t appears that there is
no defensive position south of the
! Vesle river 10 which the Germans
/ can retire and organize their re-
sistance to allied pressure. The
only other defensive position seem
/ ingly possible is the one that fol
I lows the Aisne and Vesle from
! scissors to Fismes and from that
point follows the course OF the Ar
/ Dire river toward Reims.
Huns Burning Towns.
/ Burning villages along the Aisnt
and Vesle from scissors to Ba-
! zoches are reported and tend tc
( confirm the impression that the
! Germans do not contemplate or
/ ganized resistance south of thai
line. There is every Indication tina
( the German high command has
succeeded in eXtricating its forces
] from the trap sprung by Genera
! Foch. The resistance of the Ger
mans for a week after the begin
/ ming of the allied counter often.
I sive probably gave them time Il
/ withdraw their heavier guns and {
7 large proportion of their supple:
from the salient This resistance
was very strong along the line
south OF scissors as far as Ouchy
. Le-Ville and west and southwes
/ of Reims, which were the vital sec
tors OF the battle line.
Big Defeat for Germans.
The advance of the allies east o
. Ouchy- must soon com
pei the enemy to evacuate the linz
from the Ourcq river toward Sois
! sons for a considerable distance
!. Nearer Reims, however. the Ger
mans seem to hold positions tina
will provide pivot for their re
treat toward the Vesle river. Il
this region, the allies this morning
we're getting very close to the Ar
Dire river. which forms a protection
TO the right flank of the enem.
positions near Reims.
AS the situation now stands. tn
Germans must be considered L
have suffered a severe defea
north of the Marine, but it is no
q sedan.
Over Half Pocket Cleared.
More than half of the pocket be
tween the Marine and Vesle river
has been cleared of Germans an
the allies are driving the enem
still father north.
Important gains are being mad
by the French and Americans o
the south and the Fren - and Brit
ish on the east. Pressure on tn
western and eastern sides south @
Scissors and southwest of Reims
respectively has been withstood an
the mouth of the pocket is stil
large enough to enable the create
part of the enemy force to reac
the Vesle
Take Great Enemy Base.
Fere- En-Tardenois the great Gel
= man base northeast Of Chateau TIL
cry, has fallen and Ville-En-Tarde
! I nois, east of Fere, is within tn
grasp of the advancing allies. A
most all of the Dormans-Rei
, road again is in allies hands.
No great captures of prisoner
. have been reported. The German
t are using artillery and machin
) guns to stay the allies. AS tn
French and Americans, who hav
advanced most rapidly, press north
ward. the German resistance ha
become sitter. The enemy also
making great use OF his artillery 0
/, the heights north of scissors an
! Reims and is subjecting the sides {
the pocket to an enilading bon
I IL