The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-07-29
CERMANS|N Wild
R0UT;GREAT HUN
BASE CAPTURED
Cavalry and Tanks Pursue Flee
ing Foe; French Reach
the 0urcq River.
FERE. .TARDENOIS FALLS
Allies Advance Several Miles Above
the Marne River and Capture
Three More Towns-Enemys
Losses Are FriQhtful.

LOSSES Arc TTtSuIIul
Paris, July 29.-French advance
guards have reached the north bank
of the OurcQ river and allied troops
have entered Fere-enTardenois, the
great German supply base, lying In
the center Of the Aisne-Marne salient.
the war Office announced. The vii
lagos of Anthenay and Olezy-et-Vio-
laine, lying on the east flank south
west of Reims, have been occupied.
In the Champagne a number of
German attacks were repulsed by the
French.
Old Glory futters from the city hall
Of Fere-en-Tardenois, side by side
with Frances Tri-color. The spinal
column of the German crown princes
army has been ripped wide open. The
city that formed the nerve center Of
his half million bottled-up fighting men
was stormed by soldiers Of France and
America just as night was settling
down upon the Aisne- -Marne battlefield
closing the eleventh day of FOch's
great counter-offensive.
How Americans Crossed Oureq.
American troops crossed the OurcQ
at 7:15 in the morning under cover OF
fire from their own batteries.
At 1920 o'clock they were across
everywhere from just east Of Fere-en-
Tardenois to Sergy (2h miles south
east Of Fere- e-en-Tardenois).
While the French were approaching
Fere-en-Tardenois from the west we
rushed up the ridge northeast Of the
city, despite heavy machine gun fire
from the German rear guards.
Early In the afternoon we descended
down the northern slope Of the ridge,
threatening to take Fere- enTardenOis
from the rear.
We captured q town southwest of
Sergy and took Sergy village itself af-
ter hours Of hand-to-hand fighting in
the streets.
Near Roncheres (5h miles south
east Of Fere-en-Tardenois) our ad-
vance was held up in the forenoon by
stubborn enemy resistance.
Fall Back Several Miles.
With the French Armies on the
Aisne-Marne Front, July 29.-The re-
treat of the German crown princes
forces along the whole Marne front
has reached more precipitate phase.
At some places the Germans have
fallen back several miles.
French and American troops are
harrying the retiring forces on the
center, while French and British
troops are hammering at both lenks.
Cavalry and tanks in considerable
numbers have succeeded In getting In
among the retiring Germans, while air.
planes are bombar1ing their columns
on the march.
The losses of~the enemy have been
extremely heavy.
Half Salient Retaken.
French cavalry, supported by In.
fantry elements advancing In the
Soissons- Reims salient, has reached
the district south of Villere-sur-F Fere,
q little more than q mile southeast OF
Fere-en-Tardenois and Sergy, one and
three-fourths miles east Of Villers-sur
Fere.
Southwest Of Reims the French cav.
altry is advancing swiftly on the Vile
en-TardenOis road.
The allied success has been com.
plete along the whole front. Half OF
the pocket In which the Germans have
been cornered has beer retaken.
ALLIES Take Three Towns.
Paris, July 29.-Champviosy, three
and q half miles northwest Of Dor.
mans, and many other towns and vii
lages have been captured by the
French and Americans In their pur
suit Of the Germans from the north
bank OF the Marne toward the Ourcq
Great quantities of shells were lef,
behind by the Germans In their hur
ried withdrawal.
The villages of Fresnes and COur
mont have been occupied by the
lFranco-American troops. COurmOnl
lies only little more than four mile.
southeast Of Fere-en-Tardenois.
Joy on British Front.
At the British Front, July 29.-Tht
Germans are reported to be retreatint
over wide front on the German righ'
side Of the Reims-Soissons sector
They are pursued by allied cavalry.
There Is unbounded Joy on the Who'll,
British front due to the news OF the
lfresh FrancO-American successes.
The enemy is evacuating many vii
lagos and destroying bridges and ma
terial.
The British are harassing the enc
my along their front with artillery
much gas being used. Scattered pris
toner's and machine guns have beer