The Sentinel=record., 1918-07-25
GERMANS HAVE FORTY
 DIVISIONS AGAINST ALLIES
On the Eastern Jaw of the Trap the Huns Have Been Forced Back More Than a Mile and a Half on a Ten Mile Front imperilIing His Whole Position.

Washington, July 24.-Massed Ger man reserves are holding open the jaws of the trap General Foch has sprung in the Aisne -Marne region, in desperate effort to stabilize their lines without the crushing Of the fore es withdrawing from the Chateau Tbi- erry and Marne salients. Off ciai re- ports to the war department, how ever, show that the enemy has but a single railway line remaining in his hands over which to get his heavy material out of the pocke, into which he has been forced by the allied and American advances
 The situation was graphically cX- plained today by General March. chief of staff, in a mid week conference with newspaper correspondents. For the last two days General March saio the employment of probably fifteen divisions of fresh German reserves on the Soissons jaw of the trap has practically stead!ed the line here
 On the eastern jaw front however the enemy has been ctusLed back more than a mile and d half on d ten mile front. further imperiing his whole position in the salien, from which he is endeayoring to cXtricate his troops
 The railroad running from SOis-- sons to Chateau Thierry now is either hunHa 1,., eral March said, indicating tine fronts on his war maps. "The onl, way in which the enemy can get put BOW. or get supplies over raircaG, is by the remaining line from Nanteuil. on the Ourcq to Bazoches on the river Vesle
 Tt was necessary for him, if he did not intend to be caught absolutely m pocket to keep troops from advanc- ing and cutting off this road. which would put him entirely at the mercy of the allied forces"
 General March did not indicate what development the continued bat tie along the front of the greatly re- duced German salient might be ex- FStNCu tO PiOQuRts AilOUR tuner Ol- ficers, however. the opinion prevailed that General Foch was rushing for ward masses of heavy artillery, which. with aeroplanes, would pound the in terior of the German positions from three sides.
 As these officers see the situation, the very strength of the German lines now established will make his losses great from concentrated fire of the allied artillery and aircraft. The enemy forces occupy a wedge. .he center of which is less than 15 miles from the hard pressing lines at any point. His communication lines are within gun range. once the "heayies" !" get up behind the allied lines.
 There is another consideration Lacking railway lines on which to maneuyer the enemy probably is mak- ing desperate efforts to get his big gest guns away safely.
 The attacking lines are backed by circling railways on which long range weapons on railway mounts can De shuttled back and forth at will. 1t is recalled that the German attack on Chateau Thierry little more than a week ago was accompnied by the fire of big naval guns, shells from which fell ten and fifteen miles behind the lines.
 The bitterness of the battle around Chateau Thierry and along that por- tion of the north bank of the Marne where the enemy still retains a foot - ing probably is largely due to his de termination to stave off Franco American attacks from the south at