Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1918-08-01
Franco-A American Artillery Breaks
Up Terrific CounterbIow
Launched by Germans.
SHOCK TROOPS USED
Flung Into Line against Americans 40
Foe Makes Determined Resistance
In Neiohborhood Of Fere-en-
Tardenois.

London, July 31.-Notwithstand
ing the Germans have powerfully
strengthened their battle line rum
ming across the SCISSORS Rheims
salient with fresh reserves and
have stubborniy disputed further
passage northward to the Allied
troops. the enemy front has been
compelled to bend back appreci-
ably on all sides Of the salient, ex.
ccpt at the anchor points resting
Immediately on Scissors and
Rheims.
South on Scissors further
wedges have been driven east.
ward into the enemy front down
to the ourcq river; eastward along
the Ourcq, French and American
troops have crossed the stream At
various points and advanced their
line we'll to the northward, while
southwest Of Rheims the Allies
have debouched from the wooded
sectors and gained the plains.
With the American Army on the
Afsne-Marne Front, July 31.--The Ger
mans, reinforced by two crack divi-
sions of Barvarian guards, have set
tied down to the hardest resistance
they have yet displayed against the
American forces north Of the river
Ourcq
|. Although heavily hammered. the
Americans replied In like along the
river. and the fighting shifted back
and forth through Sergy. three miles
southeast OF Fere en- Tardenois. Up
to midday the Germans had been I'M.
able to force recrossing of the
Ourcq.
Retreat 10 General.
London, July 3O.--North Of the
Marne the tide OF German invasion
Is fast ebbing The fact that a gen.
eral retreat In this region Is going on
Is not questioned, and the only CUES.
tion OF moment to be cleared up Is
the location Of the position at which
the enemy will turn at bay. Since
Saturday there have been important
changes In the battleline between
scissors and Rheims. Today 1t runs
almost directly east from Oulchy le
Chateau to Fere en- Tardenois. then
across the OurcQ and continues east
ward until II reaches the Dormans.
Rheims road northwest OF Rheims
mountain.
Burning Villages In Retreat.
II had been contended by military
experts that the Germans might elect
to stand on the line of the Ourcq
river from which their heavy cannon
might dominate the Paris-C halons
railway along the Marine. This idea Is
now proved erroneous. II appears
that there ia no defensive position
south OF the vesle river to which the
Germans can retire and organize their
resistance to allied pressure
The only other defensive position
seemingly possible Is the one that fol-
lows the Aisne and VesIe from Sois-
sons to Fismes. and from that point
follows the course OF the Arvre river
toward Rheims. Burning villages
along the Aisne and vesle from Sois.
sons TO Bazoches are reported and
tend to confirm the impression that
the Germans do not contemplate or.
ganized resistance south of that line.
Succeeds In E!udino Trap.
There is every indication that the
German high command has succeeded
In extricating its forces from the trap
sprung by General Foch. The resist
ance Of the Germans for week after
the beginning of the Allied counter
offensive probably gave them time to
withdraw their heavier guns and q
large portion OF their supplies from
the salient. This resistance was
strong along the line south OF Scissors
rs far as oulchy.le-Ville and west and
southwest OF Rheims. which were the
vital sectors Of the battle line.
The advance OF the Allies east Of
Oulchy lie Chateau must soon compel
the enemy to evacuate the line from
the Oureq river toward scissors for
a considerable distance. Nearer
Rheims, however, the Germans seem
To hold positions that will prove
pivot for their retreat toward the
Nesle river