The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1918-07-26
GERMAN NARMY TRAPPED
is WASHINGTON RLJNOR
ALLIES STILL DRIVE
AGAINST THE GERMANS
While Not Large as Previously the
Gains Add Positions Of
Strategic Value.
(Tuesday.)


Soissons-Rheims salient continue to
gain ground, both on the western
side OF the battle front and on the
south on the Marne and toward
Rheims, Notwithstanding the increas-
ing resistance of the Germans and
the bad weather that is prevailing
on the southern part of the line
While the latest gains recorded
are not great. on the whole, as those
OF the previous days, they neverthe-
less have added positions of strate-
gic value to the allied line for the
further prosecution of the efforts to
clear the line of the enemy. In the
fighting more prisoners. guns and
war stores have fallen into the
hands of the American. French and
British troops.
AS diversion the French to the
norteast, midway between Soissons
and Amiens, have delivered a blow
against the German line which has
heen productive of excellent results.
Striking on a front Of about four
miles, General Foch's troops pene-
trated the enemy lines for distance
OF about two miles and gained the
heights dominating the valley of the
Avre river and the plains beyond.
Fifteen hundred Germans were cap
tured by the French. The official
communication issued by the French
war office refers to this fighting as a
; local operation.
| South of Soissons the drive Of the
Franco American forces toward Fere-
En-Tardenois has pushed further
back the Germans on both sides of
the Ourcq river. Notwithstanding
| fierce resistance, the allied forces
reached the railroad line between
Armentieres and Coincy, running
southward to Chateau Thierry. and
pressed on beyond it, This advance
brings the French and American
, troops relatively to within seven
miles of Fere- -En-Tardenois and also
gives them a dominating position for
big gun play over the eastern section
OF the railway line running from
Amentieres to Fere1En- -Tardenois.
On the northern bank of the
Marne to the east of Chateau
Thierry the town of Jaulgonne, from
which the Americans retreated dur
ing the German offensive, has been
recaptured and left in the rear by
the advancing troops. East of Jaul-
gonne, the French likewise have adj
vanced their line on the north bank
OF the Marne and clung to their new
ly won positions, notwithstanding
the violence Of the German counter
moves and the statement Of the Ger
man war office that they were driven
out.
Likewise southwest OF Rheims
where the British are fighting with
the French. strong enemy positions
have been captured and the allied
line advanced nearly a mile. The re.
inforced German front here stub.
bornly contested the advance, but
the British and French gained the
advantage and in addition to in
ficting heavy casualties took pris
oners and five guns. The British
alone captured 800 Germans
i The counter attacks OF the Ger
mans continue to be delivered with
great violence and with heavy gun
and machine gun fire behind them
Where they are forced to give
ground. the Germans are leaving
numerous machine gun nests in the
open to harrass their enemies and aid
in making secure the retirements.
The Germans apparently are fear
full that the constant nfbbling at
their lines east of Amiens by the
British foreshadow an early attack
and they were sending a rain of gas
shells over the Villers- rs-BrtetonneuX
sector as a precaution. The British
on various sectors of the front in
France apd FLANDERS continue daily
to make slight gains against the en-.
emy and take prisoners and machine
lguhs,
In Albania both the French and
Italian troops are keeping up their
(Conanued on Page A.