Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-07-26

from scissors southwark to the OurcQ
has reached a state " equilibrium
and that the deadlock between the Of
Tense of the allies and the defense Of
the Germans will probably continue I'M
til the former bring up sufficient troops
to break the line at some vital point
The progress south of the Ourcq, how
ever. has placed in jeopardy the village
of Fere-En-T ardenois, which is one of
the most important German bases in
this region. At last accounts the French
and Americans were almost directly
south of this place.
Military critics in Paris incline to
the view that General Ludendorff the
German commander. will probably
launch a new attack on some other Sec
tor of the front in an effort to gain
a local success to gloss over his failure
at the Marine. He might by this means
also wrest the initiative from General
Foch and force the latter to remove
some of his troops from the Scissors
Rheims area. 1t seems to be CARED
that the logical point to expect such
German attack is somewhere along the
British held line.
Berlin continues to report that all al
lied thrusts are being defeated using
the adverb completely in telling Of
Tuesdays fighting. Similarly, the Ger
man war office describes the French adj
vance toward the Avre northwest of
Montdidier, in which the enemy lost
1850 prisoners, four cannon and 300
machine guns, as of no effect
The lull on the other fighting sectors
in France and Italy still is unbroken.
British and allied shipping losses in
June were the lowest in twenty-one
months or since September, 1916. Loss
es due to German submarines and
mines and marine war risk totalled
276,629 tons in June, the British losses
being 10000 tons. Compared with May.
the sinkings in June were $1,000 tons
less and with June, 1917. $4,000 tons
less. The losses for the quarter ending
June 80 was the lowest for any quarter
since the third of 1916.
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMIES IN
FRANCE, July 25.-1:30 p. m.)-Fere-
en-Tardenois is under fire from Franco
American artillery, and is being heavily
bombed by allied aviators. The bonn :
bardment is seriously interfering with
the movement of enemy troops and ma
terial. (Fere-en-Tardenois is the most
important railway and highway center
within the Soissons-Rheims salient 1t
is ten miles north and slightly east of
Chateau Thierry. The allied lines are
less than five miles ITO the west and
only a little more than that to the
south. 1t is elieved to be the last big
gap through which the crown prince
could retreat).
French troops are now within three
miles of the town of Fere-en-Tardenois,
which is the meeting> point of eight
roads. It is the center of the German
communications in this region. The
town is being heavily shelled daily and
bombed by entente allied air squadrons.
Franco-American troops this morning
advanced their lines north Of the River
Marine more steadily. The Germans
continued their retreating movement to
the northward.
The French and Americans also made
gains on other parts of the 55 miles of
battle front. The Germans viciously re.
sisted in 4 majority of cases.
The entente allied forces in the terri
tory to the north of Chateau Thierry
are paying les sattention to running
down machine guns nests and are ad
vancing their whole line, small detach-
ments being left to clean up the enemy
machine gun crews.
Heavy fighting is under way to clear
Riz forest northwest Of Jaulgonne) fol-
lowing the capture of its southern end.
during which additional guns and pris-
oners were taken.
The bridgehead at Jaulgonne has been
enlarged appreciably. French and Amer
:can troops are advancing there despite
sharp rear guard actions.