New-York tribune., 1918-07-27

Main Supply
'Point,Doomed
Fall of Oulchy Makes the
Capture Of Town and
Railroad Probable
BY Wilbur Forrest
Especial Cable to The Trtbune)

WITH THE FRENCH ARMIES.
July 26.-The railroad and road
centre of Fere-en-Tardenois is prob
ably doomed as the result of the
capture Of Oulchy-le-Chateau, lust
north of the Ourcq. The poilus have
progressed eastward beyond Oulchy.
Fere-en-Tardenois is the nerve
centre of the supply system for the
entire Soissons- -Marne-Rheims sa-
llent. A few miles directly south of
this town American troops early to-
day were biting deeper into the Fere
Forest, on the eastern side of which
lies the main highway from Fere-
en-Tardenois to Jaulgonne, on the
Marne.
Filled with Gun Nests
The forest. extending from the river
SIX miles to the northward, is there SEN
nrated by Hill 22S from the Bois de la
Iournelle, on the west Both the
wooded, regions are full of nests of Ger
man machine guns. The enemy's sys-
tenn of retreat involves, first, the evacu-
alton from the territory to be aban-
doned of supplies and cannon, and then
the leaving of hundreds of rearguard
machine guns to retard the Allies ad
vance.
Accompanied by tanks, which are
now dealing with machine guns wher-
ever found, the Franco American line
south of the Ourcq moved forward on
Thursday morning from two to three
kilometres. The French pushed on
from Armentieres, just south of the
Ourcq, encountering heavy resistance
to the southwark around the village
of La Poterie and Hill 141. It is ex-
pected that the push will be continued
into the important road junction town
of Coincy, crossing the railroad and
advancing into the outskirts of Tour
nellie Wood.
In their progression the French
passed the quarter -mile-square Chate-
let Wood, capturing the village of
Breezy, south Of Coincy and carefully
leaving the wood, completely sur
rounded, behind the line The wood
contains scores of machine guns and
probably hundreds of Germans. who
this morning are being plastered with
shellfre and probably will surrender
en- masse.
Americans Retake Epieds
The American portion OF the line
which was forced to fall back from the
village of Epieds on Wednesday brill
iantly retook that village on Thursday
morning and forged on in three
kilometre advance, despite the heavy
many places. Machine guns were nu-
merous at the Moucheton Chateau and
in the village of Courpoil, but both
were taken aNd the American line
is cutting into the forest of La Fere,
where the battle is being continued
this morning.
Once the road beyond this wood is
cut the enemy probably will be forced
to give up his entire footing on the
Marnc. because roads are practically
nonresident in this vicinity to the
cas- tWdIu AoIlOhc SOLQHiuS DeElllu tHe
enemy lines still indicate he is burn
ing vast quantities of supplies which
had been brought to the north bank of
the Marine for the troops who crossed
and then were forced to retreat.
Likely to Stand on Ourcq
The Allies have now reconquered
virtually half of the lower end of the
salient. and it is reasonable TO expect
that once the enemy leaves the Marne
he will retreat northward, probably
making a stand on the lower reaches
of the Ourcq. The heaviest Of the
enemy forces still are centred north
of the Ourcq and south of Scissors,
and desperate resistance is being en-
countered on the wooded hills west of
Rheims. This indicates that the Crown
Prince is planning eventually to
straighten his line almost across the
mouth of the salient, where ne will
seriously attempt to halt the advance.
Another proof that the enemy has q
great force south of scissors is shown
in the desperation of his resistance at
Villemontoire on Thursday evening.
The village is on a ouarry-like hillside.
organized as veritable fortress with
bristlng machine guns.
The French advanced to che outskirts
several days ago. The fighting last
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