New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1918-08-03

of darkness tonight fighting con
tinued between the Allies and
the Germans on the western side
of the Soissons- Rheims salient
Allied observers reported that
bodies Of Germans were fleeing
precipitately northward along the
road leading from Launoy, which
lies about midway between Sois-
sons and Fere en- Tardenois.
After short period of relative
calm on the Soissons-Rheims sal
lent, the central and western sec
tions Of the battle front again
have been the scene Of mighty
struggles.
On both sectors the Allied for
ces have achieved notable gains Of
ground which. observed on the
war maps, seemingly place the
German armies in front of them
in precarious positions.
In battles extending from the
region Immediately south of Sois-
sons to the northwest of Fere en-
Tardenois and southeast of the
last named town over the upper
portion of the left branch of the
"V" salient running ten miles
eastward from Nesles to Vile en-
TardenOis and with st. Gemme as
its southern base, American,
French and British troops have
pushed back the armies of the
German crown prince.
Northwest of Fere the entire
elbow Of the line where it turned
eastward along the northern
bank Of the Ourcq has been
'blotted out, making the line a
straight one from Fere to Har-
tennes and giving the Allies much
better ground over which to work
in further outfanking Soissons on
the southeast and for pressing on
toward Fismes in conjunction with
the troops, particularly the
Americans, now holding strategic
points north and northeast !. of
Fere. y
In this fighting the Allied
troops drove out the Germans
who had been tenaciously holding |
positions between Plessier Hulen |
and the river and took the high |
ground north of Grand Rozoy,
pressed on past the village of
Beugneux and arrived before the
villages of Cramoiselle and Cra-
maille. The general advance was
about two miles and 600 Germans
were made prisoner.
The most important gain, how
ever, was on the upper western
point of the "V," southeast Of
Fere. Here the village Of Cierges
and the Meuniere wood were taxi
en-. a maneuver which places the
Germans at the bottom Of the
w" at st. Gemme in a seemingly
precariousl plight, for from the
wood and the village the Allied
guns will be able to rake the
Germans. if they should endeavorI
TO make their way northward,
their only avenue of escape, by an
snfilading fire. Through the cap
ture Of the Meuniere wood the
width Of the "Vn from the fringesI
If the forest Of Rontigny on the
last, has been cut down relatively
% four miles.
As has been the case during the
past week, hte Germans contested !
'tubbornly the advance Of Allied ]
roops. but to no avail. Since the !
,attle of the Marne began, July, :
s, the Allied troops have takenl ,
more than $4,000 Germans pris-
'fler. .ll
just what part the Americ an :
roops played in Thursdays bat 5
lie has not yet been unfoIded, but .
hey doubtless were in the, center !
f the battle front and in >the :
hick of the fray. Between Sc
'inges and Cierges, respectively !
lortheast and southeast Of Fere, =
hey are known to have made 4
ODDLY gains over a four-mile !
ront, and to have pushed further :
eyond Sergy and reached withinl :
mile and half Of the village q
f Chamerv. .
On the British front in France Il
nd Flanders the bad weather has a
eased and the sun is fast drying j,
he muddy ground. The GermansI
- ' =,