The Sentinel=record., 1918-07-27

i~Ohubut July -o.-FOu all SlueS VI
the German salient the allies are re-
ported today to he continuing to
make progress, except on the heights
behind scissors, The German resist
ance to the French pressure has been
very determined in this latter sector
The advances reported elsewhere are
for the most part slight.
On the other side of the salient
just to the west of Rheims the allies
lost the town of Merry and Hill 204
to German counter attack but re-
tanned Virgny and the greater part
of the line therea bouts looking to-
ward Fismes. The allies in this sec
tor hold Martaux, Bouilly, St Euph-
raise and Courton wood
Between the Curcq and Chateau
Thierry the Franco-American line
now shows an advance beyond the
line of week ago of from six to
eight miles.
AS a result of the past weeks ae-
tivities that Nhcle situation ON the
western front has been transformed.
The Germans. according to dispatches
from the front, have used SO divisions
on the champaigne front, and the
whole of the crown princes reserves
have been exhausted
The only fresh reserves remaining
to the Germans are less than thirty
divisions attached to Crown Prince
Rupprechts armies.
Last week it appeared certain that
Prince Rupprecht would be called
upon to launch an attack on the
British front, but the enemy put off
this attack and the psychological
moment for it probably has passed,
for the Germans appear committed
to the great battle in progress and
cannot afford to strike heavily on a
dubious operation at another part Of
the front, according to the view OF
British experts
The German situation in the sal
lent, although awkward, is not un-
tenable. The enemys difficulties
are not greater than those in when
the British army was placed for
many months in the Ypres salient,
before the capture of Messines Ridge
The Ypres salient was five miles
wide and five miles deep and was
dominated ny the enemy The pres
ent German salient is now twenty
miles wide and twenty miles deep
and, similarly, is dominated by the
allied artillery.
Evidence has reached the allies in
the shape of captured documents to
show that the enemy had made up
his mind on the day after the allied
offensive began 10 undertake a re-
tirement to a line along either the
Ardre or Vese. and had actually
given orders for this. but these or
ders were later cancelled, presum-
ably owing to the difficulty of effect
ing an orderly retreat in the pinched
German command has decided to re-
tain the present positions as long as
possible.
Meanwhile, the military writer's
point out. the allies are using up the
German reserves in a battle where
the Germans are continually in a dis
advantageous position so the sitIa-
ton is entirely satisfactory to the
allies II the enemy remains in the
salient he cannot possibly undertake
any important offensive therefrom
and tho allies could hold the salient
lightly and devote their energies
eisewh ere
one reason for the German abau-
donment of the plan for retirement
is found in the reports of the allied
airmen. which show tremendous
congestion along the lines of German
communications. The Germans may
be merely holding on as long as posi-
bic in order 10 effect an orderly with
drawal and to remove the vast ac-
cumalations OF stores and munitions