Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-08-03
HUN TROOPS WORSTED
BADLY, SAYS EXPERT
Big Army Almost at Mercy of
Allies Irresistible Forces; Must
Continue Retreat.

Washington, Aug 3-A government
military expert summarizes the war
situation as follows.
The greatest struggle since the 18th
Of July Is now IN progress IN the Marne
salient After two weeks Of the most in
tense and unremittlng infantry fighting.
there came a lull on Wednesday durng
which the artillery was practically the
only arm engaged This was an entirely
logical sequence The Germans had gone
back steadily, but finally reached a line
where it was necessary 10 halt the adj
vance in order that further preparations
might be made along some selected Inc IN
the rear IN order that 1t might be per
manently held and not overrun, as was
the line Of the Ouroq Also. the material
which had congested the entire territory
between the Ourcq and the Nesle had 10
be taken out of reach of the allied forces.
HUNS MADE STUBBORN Defence.
The Germans defended therefore their
posItilns north OF the Ourcq with great
stubbornneSs. throwing in new reserves TO
check the allied attacks, and brought the
allied in fantry u a distinct halt. Since
the opening fighting Of the past tao weeks
was no longer possible without undue loss.
the Allies changed their tactics and went
back 70 the usual artillery bombardment
before launching the next infantry attack
Ii was this process which marked the
fighting Of Wednesday.
"On Thursday, after the Germans had
been sufficiently battered by Wednesday,
artillery action the infantry again went
| forward The allied attacks werr made at
/ two principal points The first Of those
was ~ the angle between the Ourcq and
/ the SolssonsC hateau-T hierry highway
/ This part Of the line has gwen the Allies
! the greatest trouble
/ The Germans have clung ;enaciously
I to every foot Of it, refusing - abandon i
/ until they were forced u do 80, either BY
| direct pressure OF by threat Of capture
/ With the capture Of Cugny and the
/ height on which It was situated, however
/ a move which the Germans would have
I prevented had they been able the po-
/ siIlons along the north bank o! the O1rcq
| we're made secure for the Aihes
/ ALLIES SWEEP VALLEY WITH GUNs
From tie height Il, Chalmont. which
Is the crest Of the Cugpy position, the
/ Allies looked down on the Ourcq Valley
and directed the fire Of the artillery wlth
disastrous accuracy " hen the infantry
wen, forward It moved directly against
! the centre aiming toward Cranaille
From Grand Rozoy a destructive
/ cross fire was poured, catching the Ger
man positions IN flank The way for the
infantry 4as therefore well cleared This
/ Is shown b< rhc depth Of advance At this
/ pplnt Not only did they reach CrsHeIIle
+ but turning to the northwest, they also
! took the height northeast u Grand Ro1oy
HILL POS glvIng them another vantage
point wcll u the north Of the height Of
/ Chalmont
ADVANCE or TWO MILES.
| "On tins section of the line the depth Of
/ advance was over two miles civ ng tho
Allies moving space north oi the Ouroq
/ and conplely Wrestling from hc Germans
sl thought Of keeping thclr gnp along
the river It IL possiblc that along the
/ CrIse rayinc the Germans nag he able Ia
| make some sort oi q stand hIa raVlnr
ls a difficult position to force by frontal
attack by reason 81 -, steep sides Bus II
can be turned and tbs vii be done per
mtting the Germans AZ best to make their
stand but temporarily
The other pon, Of greatest pressure
| was at the apex Of the salient ln the vi
| cInIty of CIcrges Here the maximum adj
! vance was about the same IN depth as as
that further west The Allies took the vii
lage and further east pushed completely
| through the woods of MeunBre. bringing
/ their line to its northern limits The move
ncnt east of this point was slight The
| Germans are lealously guarding the mar
row road along the Andre valley, which Is
| the main connecting link between the
| eastern side Of what Is left Of the salient
! and Flsmes, resisting, with the aud of their
advantages Of terrain, all attempts Of the
| Allies To press the situation III this quarter
| GERMANS MUST KEEP MOVING.
"But the limit Of this resistance will
soon be reached AS the Allies advance
northward IN the WcInIty Of MeunIere
| Wood a new salient lis created which Is
| both narrow and relatively deep, and the
| Germans will have to evacuate IT, whether
| they will or not The $ tuatlon in the
| eastern half is becoming dangerous, and
| the giving Of ground here must soon be
come more marked There can be no
doubt that it is the German intention to
! 20 back to the Vesle II is impossible TO
| do OF herwlse as matters have shaped them
selves during the last "a hours. There IS
| no continuous position between the present
| line and Bazouches which offers any
chance Of prolonged halt, and If this part
| Of the line goes the remainder must do
| likewise.