New-York tribune., 1918-07-23
British Hurled Into Marne Fight to
Offset Bdudrian Aid From Picardv

cal advance up to Sunday night of ff-
teen kilometres.
Several Franco American units have
crossed the Marne. NJ. Hutn adds,
which prcsages that the river soon will
be entirely cleared Of Germans.
In reviewing the military situation
as it stood last night the Havas Agency
to-day says:
General Foch's victory increased
greatly in scope yesterday. With Cha
teau Thierry evacuated by the Germans
during the previous night, the town was
entirely cleared by an Allied advance
in the region to the north, while from
the west Franco American troops COM
manded by General Degoutte were
crowding in on the Germans Between
the Ourcq and the Marine the enemy
was attacked by detachments under
General Mitry, which had crossed the
Marne. The general result was that
the Germans were thrown back from
eight to ten kilometres ou the Chateau
Thierry front.
"The enemy is offering desperate re-
sistance further north endcavoring to
maintain his hold on scissors and
Oulchy-le- Chateau, which form the two
pivots Of his defensive system, but
his tenure of those points must be
very difficult
Between the Marne ard Rheims the
| fighting was characterized by brill
liant actions at the foot Of the
mountain of Rheims. French, British
and italian troops We'd with each othe1
in bravery and pressed the enemy with
out respite. Although the Germans have
been considerably reinforced, the AL
lies made further important progress.
"Thus. while the enemy has given
way in the centre, it is seen that he is
making desperate efforts to hold on
the two fanks Of the fronts from Sois-
sons to the Ourcq and from the Marne
! to Rheims. General Won Boehm is in
a very precarious situation in the
pocket by reason of General Foch s
strategy ana the irresistible power be-
hind it, attested by the brilliant sue
ccsses Of our armies.
"Never, it may be said, did our high
commander deserve greater confidence
from our people than in these days of
great hopes"
All the military critics of the news
papers, after careful examination of
the tactical position and the strategi-
cal situation, have come to the conclu-
sion that whatever happens now the
Allied counter offensive is new and
great victory of the Marne
The difficulties with which the en-
emy is struggling are pointed out by
the Petit Parisien," which nppends
this comment:
"The enemy, who boasted that he
would capture Chalons in two days
Is now congratulating himself on his
ability 20 defend himself as he is do
ing and pointing to this as great
victory. Between the dream of break
up of the French army and the break
ing Of ones own army in front of the
French, there is a difference that per-
haps the German people will perceive
The truth is that the military balance
which since March 2l had leaned tc
the side of the Central Powers, has
been forcibly swung to the side of the
Allies since July 15"
Premier Clemenceau's newspaper
"IHomme Librc," decarcs that, heyont
everything, sit is to our infantry-ouI
poilus-and the Allied troops to whom
must go our gratitude.
But" adds the newspaper, "the vic
tory is also due to the fact that we
have been able to bring our force:
under q single command. With sucl
leader as Foch, who can tell to wha
results this new victory of the Marne
| achieved in the last days of the fourth
year of the war, may lead ?"