The sun., 1918-07-24
ALLIES NARROW
POCKET ABOUT
FISMES BASE
German Retreat Is No ROut.
Enemy Falling Back in
Tactical Order.
Loss OF ROADS Is FELT
Americans and French Is
Miles From Goal and Brit
tish 12 Miles.
Loss OF ROADS Is FELT
By GERALD CAMPBELL.
! Special Gable Despatch to The SrS from hs
London Times.

London Times.
Copyright 1918; all rights reserved
Wrrn THE FRENCH ARMY. July %
The position OF the Germans in the
Soissons- Rheims pocket is now so
cramped that it is dangerous. The
distance across the base OF this salient
is only about thirty miles. and the dis
tance from Fis'ncs, midway between
the two cities. TO the nearest French
outpost north OF Chateau Thierry is
only eighteen miles.
West of Fismes Gen. Mangin's army
is only fifteen miles away. and to the
French and Americans pressing north
ward from the Marne it is only fifteen
miles. Southwest Of steeuppraise the
British are within twelve miles.
From all OF these sources the French
American and British are striking in the
same direction, with F!smes as their
goal On the enemy's side. so far. there
has been nothing resembling n rout.
The retreat has been conducted with
the greatest tactical skill. Everywhere
they are Offering a stiff resistance TO our
advance. but their opposition is hindered
more and more by the cramped and In
sufricient transportation facilities. Bring
ing up supplies OF food and ammunition
grows Increasingly difficult and II any
of the allied forces succeed in breaking
through the scmicircle OF which Fismes
Ia the centre the state of confusion into
which the enemy would be thrown
might lead to a disaster.
Already the Germans have lost con-
troll of the main roads leading from sois-
sons south to Chateau Thierry. and are
now forced TO depend on the single road
from Rheims to Dormans or on the rail-
road from Fere-en-Tardenois to Fismes.
These are the only lines OF Importance
in the district. One is gone: another is
partly gone. and the cutting OF the other
which may happen at any time-will
make matters exceedingly bad for the
Crown Prince.
Advance L. Continued.
In spite OF strong counter attacks by
the Germans the French continued TO
advance yesterday between the Aisne
and the Marine. making especially good
progress in the district north of Chateau
Thierry. where they carried forward the
line east of La Croix, nine miles north
OF Chateau Thierry, and east OF Girls
soles, mile further south. In other
words they got to the Scissors Cha teau
Thierry road here, as they already had
done further toward Scissors East OF
Grissoles they crossed the road and rail-
way and established themselves in the
village OF Epieds.
Further east along the Marne they
already had brideed the river with a
view to an advance to the north. Pa
trolls sent out to explore the country on
the right bank found Basiieux. north of
Bois de Rodemat and Bois du Roi, oc-
cupied by strong rear guards. though
the enemy's artillery at the same time
was keeping up hot fire in the river
valley all yesterday afternoon.
Baslieux, just a week ago to-day--the
first day OF the German offensive--was
the scene of a typical story. the highest
spirit and patriotism and self-sacrifice on
the part of a French infantry Major. In
the early morning he and companies of
his command were cut of and surrounded
,in a village At 7 80 he sent a message
to divisional headquarters by carrier
pigeon giving useful information about
the German advance and describing the
plight OF himself and men. but saying
that they would hold out. He did hold
out for seven hours. and then sent
final message by the last carrier pigeon
he had.
Made Targets of Themselves.
"The Boches are on us. We are lost.
but We have done good work. Order
your artillery TO fire on Baslleux," mean
Ing himself and his two companies.
Northeast of Basleux, in the direc-
ton OF Rheims, az far as ste Uphraise.
is a seven mile sector OF the front which
is now very important, and especially OF
interest TO Euglishmen. Part of II, on
two sides of the River Ardre, IL held by
British divisions. Scottish and English,
with French divisions to the left and
right OF them.
Before the arrival of the British this
sector was held by the Italians who had
fought well during the offensive and had
dealt particularly severely with the Ger
man l23d Division. The position is held
in great strength by the Germans. who
when they made UP their minds to re-
treat to the Marne necessarily fixed upon
IL as the post of their left flank, which
must be held at all costs In order to al
low the troops on the centre to retire In
comparative security and free from the
I isk ofbeing rushed.