The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1918-08-02
General Foch Is Squeezing the
Crown Princes Army Out of
SoiSsons-Reims Salient.
HUNS IN PERILOUS POSITION
American Troops Are Highly Praised
for Their Fine Work-British in
Flanders Take Meteren-SiIly
Exploit of U-Boat Off
Cape Cod.
BY EDWARD w. PickARD.

''We've got 'em on the run" was the
joyful cry of America as the news
came in of the victorious progress of
the allied troops in the Soissons-Reims
salient.
+, In measure this was true, for the
Germans were being gradually
squeezed out of the salient, and there
was every reason for citation over the
splendid fighting of the allies. But to
hail the success as great decisive
victory was premature and foolish.
Such running as the Huns did was
done only at the start of Foch's often
sive, when they were taken by sur
prise. Their commanders quickly re-
gained some measure of control, and
thereafter the enforced retreat was
conducted skilfully and slowly, every
bit of ground being bitterly contested
in order that as many guns and as
much supplies as possible might be
saved. Realizing that his entire army
south of the Aisne was in grave dam
ger, the crown prince sent in more and
more of his reserves until 40 divisions
were engaged, and desperate efforts
were made to stabilize their lines of
defense. However, nothing was al
lowed to stop the steady forward
movement of the allies on three fronts
of the salient, and the path of re-
treat was narrowed day by day. All
Of the territory vet held by the enemy
was brought under the fire of the
heavy guns, and the airmen in great
numbers flew over the region day and
night, working havoc with their bombs
and machine guns.
Ia
At the beginning of the week there
were highly successful operations on
the west front of the salient, in both
of which the Americans played an i'm
portant part. At the tip of the Ger
man advance Chateau Thierry was
taken by storm and large section
north and east of it was cleared of
Huns. Here thousands of Germans
were killed, other thousands captured,
and great numbers of cannon and
quantities OF. supplies We're taken.
From this point northward to Sois-
sons the Franco-Americans swept east
ward until Neuilly st. Front was TAX
en-, Oulchy threatened, scissors itself
brought under gunfire and the very i'm
portant railroad from there to Chateau
Thierry crossed at so many places that
it could no longer be used by the en-
envy. This drive, to be wholly sue
cessful, had to be carried to Fere-en-
Tardenois, through which ran the only
remaining railway which the Huns
could rely upon to get their war sup
plies out of the way of Foch's pincers,
and before the week closed the French
and Yankees were moving steadily to-
ward that town from the west and
south. 1t must not be supposed that
their progress was easy. The Ger
mans counter-attacked repeatedly and
fought brave and stubborn rear-guard
battles. The village of Epieds. fOr'in-
stance, after being taken at the point
of the bayonet by the Americans, was
recaptured by the Huns. and again
won by the Yankees, who then ad-
yanced their lines far beyond it.
Some of the fiercest fighting took
place along the Marine east of Chateau
Thierry. At first the Germans retreat
ed across the river so hastily that the
movement amounted almost to a rout.
From the heights of Jaulgonne, Barry
and Passy. the American guns poured
l~osI
many of whom. throwing away their
rifles, sought to swim the river, and
were drowned.
81
When Foch was secretly preparing
f0u- his great strategic attack he called