Omaha daily bee., 1918-07-26

going on.
By Associated Press.
London, July 25.-The latest war
eommuniqus shows that General
Foch is methodically continuing to
close the pincers which grip the Ger
mans between the Aisne and the
Marne. The capture Of Armentieres
increases the development of Oulchy-
le-Chateau and the capture of Bre-
cy brings the allies only FIVE miles
from the important highway center
Of Fere-en-T Tardenois.
The British advance north of the
Ardre is important, threatening the
German left with development, while
the Franco-American troops advanc-
ing from the Marne are menace to
the German center. m ..
The British success at Vrigny
threatens Fismes, another important
center, hence the desperation of the
Germans, who are attempting to pre-
vent the allied advance in this direc-
ton. The German defense of Sois-
sons, the pivot of their position, is
also beginning to become formid-
able. |~
100000 Huns Within Triangle.
1t is estimated that there are
100000 Germans fighting within the
triangle. -..- H..
British and French troops have ad-
vanced to Gueux and Merry Premecy,
in the battle sector just west Of
Rheims, according to information re-
ceived here this afternoon from the
battle front.
The new line shows an advance OF
about two miles toward Fismes. This
gain when seen on the map is of evil
dent Importance for it greatly mar
rows the salient created by the Ger
mans in their drive last May.
1t no longer is proper to speak OF
the pocket as running from scissors
to Rheims, for the newest advantage
of the entente allies has pulled the
eastern edge of the pocket eight
miles to the westward, making Merry
Premecy the marker for the eastern
rim.
4 Mouth Reduced to 81 Miles.
The mouth of the pocket is now
only 21 miles wide and the whole dis
trict between the two sides is under
the range of entente allied guns.
On the west side of the pocket the
Franco American troops have
Strengthened out their line at the ex-
tense of the Germans during the past
"a hours, this involving a loss to the
enemy of about 40 square miles of
territory between .Armentieres and
Vincelles. The line IN the lower west
ern part Of the pocket now runs
straight southeast from Armentieres,
and along this line the Germans have
been compelled to give up all the lit
tie angles and corners they had been
holding on to as observation posts.
The German military nerve center
Ut Fere En- Tardenois, which as the
junction of several great roads was
the most important storehouse and
distributing point of the Germans, is
now under cross fire from French and
American artillery and must be we'll
nigh untenable. In fact, no place in
the whole pocket is very comforta-
bic position with the allies long
range artillery sweeping back and
forth.
Possible evidence of a further with
drawal by the Germans is seen on
the western flank of the pocket in
the fact that the German artillery fire
has grown much lighter and the guns
appear to be firing from greater dis
tances behind the lines as if being
pulled back to places of safety.
The morale in the German ranks
appears to have suffered seriously
from the setback and this condition is
accentuated by the knowledge that
the enormous losses of the past fort
night have fallen on the flower of the
German armies, namely, their storm
troops, which have been combed out
from all fronts and which admittedly
are irreplaceable.
20 German Divisions Engaged.
Up to the present 70 German d.
visions have been identified in the
present fighting zone and the battle
therefore may be regarded as the
biggest since the beginning of the
war
The prisoners taken number over
25,000 and more than 500 cannon and
thousands Of machine guns have been
| captured =