Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1918-07-24
GERMANS Plan
COUNTER ATTACK.
ALLIES PREPARED
Enemy Continues the Destruction
of All the Villages Be-
hind His Lines.
BOTH SIDES ARE REINFORCED
Franco-Americans Take Epieds by
Storm and Keep Up Their Advance
Astride Two Important Roads
Airmen Bomb Concentrations.

u lTy u lldiI IIo tuNtllCe u lHc uiiiCS
on the Aisne-Marne-C Champagne front
Is now looked for. The allies are fully
for it.
The Germans continue the deyasta-
tion behind their lines and dozens OF
villages were reported burning during
the night.
Great fires were observed in the re-
glons Of Fere-en-Tardennois and Vile
German ammunition dumps and
food depots are being blown up on a
big scale.
With both sides REINFORCED and the
Germans offering strong rearguard re-
sistance at many points, the great
battle was raging with extreme vio-
lence today.
American and French troops have
advanced beyond the heights east of
Lacroix and Grisolles, which TANKS
the Chateau Thierry-SoissQns road.
Epieds Taken by Storm.
The village of Epieds has been taken
in a storm attack and the Franco
American troops have occupied the
heights northeast Of Mont st. Pere.
In spite of the determined German
resistance the allies in the past "a
hours have made progress on both
TANKS of the Aisne-Marne salient and
at the apex-which now rests north Of
the Marine river.
On the eastern wing of the salient
French troops have withstood power
full German counter-thrusts in CourtOn
wood and Bois du Koi, while farther
north in the direction of Reims the
newly arrived British gained ground
and captured several hundreds of pris-
Oners.
That the Germans realize they will
be compelled to give more ground I'M
der the terrific pressure Of the allied
"pincers" is indicated by their contin-
ued troop movements northward and
the destruction Of villages behind their
front. ..e
Every bit of the area behind the
German lines south of the Aisne Is be-
ing heavily shelled from two sides and
great numbers of gas projectiles are
being thrown among the moving
troops.
Allies Astride Two Roads.
The Franco-American troops are ad-
vancing astride two important roads,
the Chateau-ThierryO ulcht-le-C Chateau
road, and the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Tardenneis road. Allied airmen have
been doing effective work in bombing
German troop concentrations on the
highways leading to the
north and in hurting tons Of high ex-
plosives upon railroads, bridges, am
munition dumps, gun emplacements
and military works.
Air observers report the massing Of
German troops around scissors and 1t
Is evident that they intend to make
a desperate effort to hold this pivotal
position on the Aisne. Despite their
tenacious resistance, however, French
and American troops have advanced
south Of scissors during the past "a
hours.
Americans East Of Epieds.
With the American Army on the
Marne, July 23.-American troops adj
vancng east Of Epeds have FORMED
contact with the Americans that
struck northward from the Mont St.
Pere sector.
The Germans are being cleared from
the BarbiIlon wood and the tip Of the
Chateau Thierry salient is being wiped
out.
German resistance is getting sitter.
Low clouds that threaten rain are
hampering aviation work.
Huns Disguise AirpIanes.
Twice in "a hours Germans have
used airplanes with allied markings in
an attempt to join our squadrons in
the air and confuse them.
One observation plane, in all ap-
pearances a bona fide flight instru-
ment of the allied armies, joined our
airplanes and suddenly began pump
ing it's machine gun into a group Of
birdmen. It then swooped
Town and away.
Later another plane, manned by
German, played the same trick.
German Situation Desperate.
Washington, July PA communique
issued by General Pershing indicates
that the situation of the Germans at
some points is desperate, the American
pointing out that many Of
the towns given up by the Germans
showed that the evacuation had been
hastily carried out.
On the eastern side Of the salient
press dispatches told Of the blowing
10 of ammunition dhmps and the burn
ing Of stores which the Germans had
not time to remove. AS practically all
lines with the salient
have been destroyed by the allies fire
or are under attack 1t was considered
the material losses of the enemy will
be great.
Steadily advancing with terrific at
lacks American, French, British and
italian troops appeared to be endeav-
oring to smash in the sides of the deep
Soissons-Reims salient through the
center Of which the Germans are with
drawing their forces. Both TANKS Of
the pocketlike salient held by the enc
ny, according to reports, were being
subjected to heavy artillery fire and
fierce infantry charges. The allies
guns and aircraft appeared to be
the retreating Germans at
,vorv rcipt