Licking Valley courier., 1918-08-01
YANKEES DRIVE
HUN FORCES OUT
! OF MARINE FOREST
French Score Gains North of
Marne and on the Cham
payne Front.
HEAVY GUNS ASSAIl ENEMY
Four Steady Fire Into Salient, Hitting
German Bases, Depots and Com
munlcation Lines-AlIied Air.
men Increase Activity.

With the American Army on the
Aisne-Mnrne Front, July 90 - The
FrancO-American forces on the front
northeast Of Chateau Thierry have
driven the Germans almost entirely
out of the wooded area which they
have been so stubbornly defending.
The allies pressure is being constant
ly maintained and the punishment of
the enemy by artillery fire was re-
sumed with added vigor. Under the
cover of the guns the Franco-Ameri-
can troops again began crawling for
ward.
The advance is bringing the allies
still nearer to the important road
junction Of Fere-en-T -Tardenols. 1t is
being carried out through the remain
der Of the dense woods in this region
and over the rain-soaked fields and
hills on their outskirts. Slowly re-
treating, the Germans are fighting
stubbOrnly as they retire.
LuII In Desperate Battle.
Paris, July ga lull, probably only
Tor few hours, has interviewed in the
desperate battle In the Marne salient.
The allies offensive, although un-
checked by the Germans, has slowed
down and counterattacks by the enemy
have ceased for the moment.
Meanwhile the allies artillery is
pouring heavy fire on the German
gtbases, depots and lines of communlca-
s1fion within the pocket between
Rei1as and scissors. The entire re-
gion is within the range of the big
guns, and as on the previous days they
continue TO hammer the enemy un-
,rss'pgIy A.. = a!r@sn have 10;
cresNd the intensity Of their bombing
operations. As a result the Germans
within the pocket probably are no bet
ter off than during the period of bit
ter fighting around the ever-narrow-
ing edges.
Woods Almost Cleared Of Foe.
From the Ourcq to the Marne and
along the Marne the Germans have
been cleared almost entirely from the
Fere and Rls forests and the Tour
nellie wood and now stand with their
backs against the virtually clear pla-
teau between Fere-en-Tardenois and
ville-en-Tardenols. The allies lines
are within few miles Of these places,
and Fere, originally the most impor-
tnnt southern base, Is of no use TO
the enemy, the allies guns. dominating
\ the town and the dlverging roads. This
situation was improved further for the
allies by the capture of Villemontolre
and Oulchy-le- Chateau, which the Ger
mans have made no attempt to retake.
Almost all the progress Friday wa'
made In the wooded areas north Of
the Marne and between the Marne and
the Ourcq. Using as small number
OF men as possible, the enemy depend
er upon artillery and machine guns to
hhlt the French and Americans but
they pushed on and chased the Ger
naks to the northern edges. Local
show&rs fell over much of the battle
area Friday.
Crown Prince Withdrawing.
II is believed that the German
crown prince continues to withdraw
his men and supplies from the salient
Further fires hNve been seen and ex
nlosions heard within the enemy lines
TO withdraw would be an admission
nv the crown prince that he had met
with serious setback There woult
probably be u drop In the German mo
rnle and the German command may
prefer TO hold on rather than to ad
init defeat, From military stand
point the Germans would improve
their position II they retired to thu
\. vesle.
All the ground gained along tn,
Sarne In the onslaught Of July 10 hai
m lost by the Germans except {
Of eight miles. Eaat of Relm
mn S,annpagne General Gduraud ha
been busy and has reoccupled his for
mer flrst line east of the Snippes. TIL
advnnce measures more than five hun
drati yards on front OF over te
miles and includes the Iecapture o
the Main de Messages. In the opera
ton the French took LOO prisoners
Paris last night also reported the caI
lnre of 700 Germans ON the wester
flank Of the salient, making total @
1900.
Fall to Make counterblow.
On the other sectors In France tn
ayzas awalt German thrusts. Their
Is strong belief in some quarters thf
the enemy will strive TO ease the 81
nation north OF the Marne by u stron
attack elsewhere, but nothing has mi
tariilized. The Germans have failG
to repent their futile attack 0gnln
the British In FLANDERS aud their Il
tempted raids on that battle field,
well as north Of Albert, have been r
pulsed.
f. Dritiah alrmen In the last week hay
accounted for 81 enemy machine
while losing 81. Long.dlstonce raj
ing wns tie greatest during tile wa
lTwenty.nve incurslons into German