The sun., 1918-07-27


Oulchy lie Chateau were captured. VILE
montoire Is Ave miles south Of Scissors,
on the high road to Chateau-Thierry
Oulchy- le- Chateau Is seven miles further
south. The capture Of the latter Is
step toward Fere-en TIA rdenois, about
five miles to the east: the Franco
American forces to the south are closer
Only artillery activity prevailed
d. south of the Ourcq River to-day, ac-
cordinC TO the night official statement
from Paris. Some additional advances
wers made southwest OF Rheims.
In the sector below Rheims the Ger
mans recaptured Merry and Hill 2O4, but
the British retain their hold on Vrigny
and most of the other territory taken In
that region.
Reports reaching London' late to-
night state that the French are nearing
Trugny, two and half miles from
Fere- en-Tardenois. and the German
communications at Fismes and Ba-
xoches some miles to the northeast OF
Fere-en-Tardenois. are gradually being
brought under the range Of the French
guns.
On the north bank of the Marine, at
the point where the Germans had APP
preached nearest to Epernay, the
French captured Reuii and Savarges
Farm yesterday evening and pushed
back the Germans to the southern out
skirts OF Lisieres Blnson-Orquigny and
vlllers-sous- Chatillon. The Germans
to-day retain virtually nothing of the
ground they captured along the Marine
in their great attack Of July Is.
As result OF last weeks activities
the whole situation on the battle front
has been transformed. The Germans
according to dispatches from the front,
have used sxty-fve divisions (7S0000
men) and the whole OF the Crown
Princes reserves have been exhausted
The only fresh reserves remaining, to
the Germans are less than thirty d.
visions 100000 men) attached to
Crown Prince Rupprecht's armies.
Danger to British Passes.
It appeared certain last week 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 1t prob
ably has passed. for the Germans APP
Ypres salient. Before the capture of Mes
sines Ridge. the Ypres salient was five
miles wide and five miles deep and was
dominated by the enemy. The present
German salient Is now twenty miles
wide and twenty miles deep, and SINH
larly, is dominated by the allied az
pear committed to the great battle In
progress, and cannot afford to stake
heavily on dubious operation at an
other part of the front, according to the
view of British experts.
The German situation in the salient,
although awkward, is not untenable.
The enemys difficulties are not greater
than those in which the British army
was placed for many months In the
tillery.
One reason for the Germans aban-
donment OF the plan for retirement is
found in the reports of allied airmen,
which show tremendous congestion along
the lines of German communication. The
Germans may be merely holding on as
long as possible IL order to effect an or
derby withdrawal and 10 remove the vast
accumulations of stores and munitions
which fad been gathered in this district
ready for great advance southwark.
Undoubtedly big effort will be made
to straighten out the confusion which
now exists along all the arteries Of the
salient. All these arteries are now con-
stantly under the Allies shell Are and
work along them must be very difficult
The Associated Press correspondent
with the French army in France tele-
graphed that the entire German position
within the Marine salient Is such that II
may fall at any instant as the result OF
some sharp forward move by the Allies
affecting vital part. 1t is for this
reason that the German commanders
have ordered their men to hold on at al
costs, while a defensive position is pre-
pared upon which the German armies
can fall back.
Net Daily Drawn Closer.
Day after day the Allies, now the
French, now the Americans and nov
prtt oh
triangular salient, he adds, at some
places making deep dents in the enemy
positions, and at others progressing
more slowly.
Every line OF communication within
the German salient is under lombard
ment night and day. either from the
allied artillery or the airplanes. Il
is only with the greatest difficulty ant
with heavy sacrifices that the enemy /!
able to hold on within this area All thu
while his men are suffering terrible pri
vations owing to the uncertainty o.
obtaining supplies.
In consequence OF the Allies command
ing virtually every road and every patti
the fatigued German units cannot be re
lieved even when they are sorely tried.
The latest news from the Aisne
Marine battle front is considered by thu
afternoon newspapers of Paris to be par
progress. it is believed. has not We
come to an end. Despite stubborn re
sistance, the Germans have been obliged
to give up Oulchy-le-Chateau, and II II
thought that the Teutons cannot lont
hold Fere-en-T ardehois.
La Liberte says the Germans must b.
considering a retreat TO the banks OF tn,
River Vesle. as fires and explosions arr
multiplying in the German lines and thu
Teuton provisions and other stores arr
in flames. The Germans, the newspape
adds, either must retreat or face dis
aster.
The Germans have reinforced thei
right flank of the Scissors Rheim
pocket, says La Liberte, with a new
army commanded by Gen. Won Eben
which has been placed between tn
armies OF Gen. Won Hutier and Gen. VOL
Boehn.
A majority OF the military critic
think that the German Crown Prime
will not reconcile himself with fallinl
back to the line Of the Vesle withou
giving a further defensive battle oil
the plateau OF Tardenois in conjunction
with an offensive battle in the neigh
boring regions. II "a believed proba bl
by some that the Germans may ais
strike simultaneously in Flanders. Tn
critics are convinced. however, that Ger
Foch will not let the initiative b
taken from him.
Allies Well Prepared.
The Mdtin says that whether tn
Germans begin an attack against III
French mr. the british they will find th