The Mountainair independent., 1918-08-01

Germans have powerfully strengthen
ed their battle line running across the
S0isSOnS-R Rheims salient with addi-
tiOnaI fresh reserves and have stub
b0rnly disputed further passage north
ward to The entente allied troops. the
CEmy front has been compelled TO
bend back apprecabIy on all sides of
tie salient, except at the anchor
points resting Immediately on SOiS-
sons and Rheims.
South of SOissOnS further wedges
have been driven eastward into the
enemy front down to the Ourcq river;
eastward along the Ourcq, French and
American troops have crossed the
stream at various points and adyanc-
cd their line well to the northward,
while southwest of Rheims the allies
have debOuchcd from the wooded Sec
tors and gained the Dlains, nOtwith-
standing the violence of the oncmy's
counter maneuvers. At some points
the German succeeded somewhat in
checking the forward movement, but
nowhere are they able to bring il to
standstiIl,
The retirement of the Germans still
remains orderly, but everywhere the
cllied troops, and especially theAmer-
leans near Fere- -TardenOiS, arc press.
ing them hard, Particularly bitter
fighting has taken place around FerG-
en-Tarden0is and at SerEy, both OF
which towns are new well in tie
hands of the French and Americans.
At Scrgy the Germans paid the Amer.
leans the compliment OF r. Iriorcing
their battle line with two divisions Of
WelI-tried Bayarian tro0Ys, men
whose courage previously had been
tested wnan the tide of bAtHh was cc-
ing against the Germans. 1t was an
effort either to deSj:0Y lhn Americans
or to herd them back across the 0urcQ
The effort resulted in failure.
The battle line shifted back aud
forth and Sergy changed hands four
times. but the Americans proved TO he
the masters of the picked enemy
troops and finally drove them out and
retained. the village Heavy casual
lies were inflicted on The Germans.
The fighting in Fere-en-T -Tardenois
also was of sanguinary character,
the opposing forces fighting in close
contact through the streets Of the
town, but with the Germans being
gradually driven back under the ma
chine gun and rifle fire Of the French
and Americans or left weltering in
their blood from contact with the cold |
steel of the allied bayonets.
Immediately south Of Scissors, on
the western edge Of the salient, the
Germans strOye herOically TO hold |
back enemies, in order to prevent the |
further fianking Of scissors and the |
possible cutting off Of large forces Of |
their men fighting along the Ourcq |
south of OUlchy le Chateau. Scot |
tish troops, however, captured posi- |
tons in the outskirts of BuZancy just |
to the west OF the Soissons-Chateau- |
Thierry road, while further south the |
French overcame the resistance i'm |
posed against them, crossed the high |
road and took Grand Rozoy and Cug- |
ny and the Butte Cha:mont.
Southeast of Scissors, well inside |
the salient and at present far outside |
the immediate battle zone, various |
towns and villages along the SCISSORS |
Fismes railroad are said to Ie in |
flames. This seemingly would indi-
cate that the retirement of the Ger |
mans from the big pocket is to pro-
ceed still further northward before !
they intend to halt it, face about and !
give battle to the allied troops along /
a chosen line. If the retreat on the
west line is to be carried beyond the /.
Soissons-Fismes line it seems highly |
probable that it is the intention of
the Germans to make their stand !
from Scissors eastward along the
Aisne to the Vesle river and thence
southeastward to Rheims.
British troops on various sectors
in France and Flanders continue their
harassing tactics against the German
front. NearMorlancourt in the Amiens
sector the Australians have taken sew !
eral lines Of trenches, captured a fair
" large number of prisoners and in
ficted heavy losses on the enemy dur
ing counter attacks Near Gavrelle, /
which lies northeast of Arras, Cana
dian contingents likewise have car