The Washington herald., 1918-07-31
Franco-Americans Make
Progress Northeast of
Fere-en-T Tardenois.
HUN COUNTER ATTACKS
CHECKED AT ALLPONTS
Yanks Capture Wood, Farm
and Hill on Bank Of
Ourcq.
GERMANS GAIN AT ISOLATED
cENTERS, BUT IMMATERLALLY
Ludendorf Brings Up Reserves and
Makes Desperate Attempt to
Wrest Victory from Defea'.

With the Americans on tn Ouroq.
July 30.-(8 p. m. m.)-Althoush the
Germans threw in heavy re-en-
forcements and carried out violent
bombardments. we continued to
advance today east of Fere-en-
Tardenois, capturing the BruIe
wood, southeast of Seringe-et-
Nesle. Mercy farm. south Of Bois
de Brule. and Hill 2l2. which
dominates Sergy from the south
east. G
MAINTAIN SERGY GAINS.
Paris, July 3o.-The French ard
Americans made fresh progress
today on the heights northeast of
Ferc-en-Tardcnois. and maintained
their gains around Scrgy village.
dcsupite many German counter at
tacks, the war office announced in
its night communiquc.
Southwest OF Rheims. the Ger
mans counter attacked at Ste
Euphrasie, slightly advancing to
the west OF that village, the state
ment says.
Crown Prince Fails Again.
Paris, July S0-she crown princes
army launched one terrific lunge after
another on each side Of the Aisne-
Ourcq-Arde pocket today. trying to
shake OF the allied shackles- They
failed
At the end Of the thirteenth day OF
the great counter-driye. the war once
was able to announce fresh PROCESS
on the right bank of the Ourcq north
east of Fere-en-Tardenois. Americans
captured 4 wood. a farm and a hill.
each VeTitable fortress. after beating
down heavy masses Of freshly brought
up picked Prussian troops.
In Close Quarters.
Paris. July 3o.-As dusk was settling
upon the AisRe-OurCq battlefield-it is
no longer an "Aisne-Marne battle
american and German troops were
locked j nthe fierces colse-ouarters
fighting since Foch's counter-drivs
began. the most savage combat in
which Americans have been engaged
in this war. Along each of the four
sides OF the pocket the size of whicn
is half of what was a week ago. the
Germans are making a determined
stand. On their whole right aank
they have been launching terrihe
counter-attacks since early this morn
ing.
Ianks In Vital Sector.
Pershing's troops, holding one Of
the vital sectors, that around Fere-
en-Tardenois. the captured German
rail-base. are giving a splendid ae-
count OF themselves. At a few iso-
lated points the line Of battle shift.
ed in favor of the Germans. but on
the whole their counter thrusts havo
failed TO dislodge the French and
Americans. At some points fresa
progress was made. but taken in its
entirety, the fighting line had UNDER
gone little change up to this cabling.
A monster battle in which cold s.eei.
rife butts and even fists are the
most-used and most effective weap-
ons, RACES along a front altogether
thirey-sever miles:
From Buzancy -four miles south OF
soissons) to Cierges Csoutheast Of
Fere-en- Ia Tardoncisl hf'cen miIo-.
From Cierges northeastward 10
Chaumuzy Csouthcast Of VilIe-en-Tar-
denois) twelve miles
Seems Battle Of Reserves.
From Chaumuzy to the Rheims
ten miles.
1t is as yet too early to state that
this is the first phase Of the battle
of the reserves" which was CNclu-
sively foreshadowed in these dis
patches Saturday, deliberately em-
barked upon by Ludendorin 10 force
decision because a dithdrawsl 20
the Aisne's north bank would be
confession OF utter defeat which
even an offensive at another front
could not explain away.
New Hun Units Arrive.
New German divisions have ar
rived, and are arriving. from Crown
Prince Ruppracht's northern armies.
Late today word comes from the
Aisne-ourcq front that there are
now fully fifty-fiye divisions in the
Tardenois pocket. and among them
are many of the HaisePs best Yes
I terday four divisions borrowed from
Rupprecht were thrown into the
fighting on the Germa nright, op-
posite Mangin's Franco-American
army. There are indeed indications
that the great gamble of stripping
the Bavarian crown princes front
CONTINUED on RAss THEKk