IN THE SHELL-RIVEN MARNE POCKET

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 265, 29 July 1918, Page 5

IN THE SHELL-RIVEN MARNE POCKET

REPORTED RETREAT OF THE GERMANS ANOTHER ADVANCE BY THE FRENCH By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright. _ Washington, July 2G. iTie Allies have captured Onlchy-le-Chateau and Yille Montoire. The Germars' position in the Marne salient is such that it is believed that General lochs stroke at its vital part will ensura a considerable Allied victory. A new German army has Teinforced the right flank of the enemy in the region of Soissons. The French and Americans aro fighting in the woods north of Chateau Thierry. The Allied guns havo moved up, and are now commanding the area beyond Fere-en-Tardenois. It is believed that the moment when the bottle-neck to tho Marne will bo closed around the enemy is approaching. The French and American fight at Epieds was especially bitter. The town was captured threo times, and finally only ruins remained, full of German tod. Tho Americans found that the Allied bombardment had so smashed tho German troops in. the village that they were indistinguishable from the powdered bricks which wero all that remained of tho bouses.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. HEAVY ATTACK BY TEE ENEMY NEAR VRIGNY mi « London, July 26. The Germans- to-day heavily attacked tho French near Vrigny. The attack was ultimately stopped near the village. Another heavy attack drove the French to Plossierhulen. . The French attacks between the Ourcci and tho Marno continue. The French advanced a mile, capturing the southern part of tho Forest, of Fero, while Fere-en-Tardenois is within eight thousand yards of tho Fre>i:h line and under fire. There were only local --Derations cast of Reims. The weather is very bad. Thus far there is no indication that Prince Euppreeht is about to attack—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn, ENEMY IN FULL RETREAT FROM THE "POCKET" ' (Itec. July 28, 5.5' p.m.) The United Press correspondent on the French front states that the Germans are in full retreat from the bottom of the Marne pocket.—Aus.-N.Z Cablo Assn. IMPORTANT GAINS REPORTED fficc. July 28, 11 p.m.) mi. -v- ,- , „m. i New York . J % #• The New lork Times correspondent on the West front states that the Allies have already gamed several kilometres on tho southern portions of the Marno ealicnt—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. CLOSING IN ON FERE-EN-TARDENOIS (Kec, July 28, 5.5 p.m.) mi •, • , Paris < Jll] y 26. The Allies are slowly closing upon Fere-en-Tardenois, barelv three miles away. Meanwhilo the artillery and the airmen are inflicting heavy'losses on tho Gorman troops.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. DRASTIC CHANGE IN GERMAN PLANS STORY OF A COUNTERMANDED ORDER TO RETREAT. Jlec. July 28, 5.5 p.m.) , , r _ ' New York, July 26. Mr. Duranty, tho New York "Times" correspondent on the French front, learns from a French Staff officor on the Maine sector of a dramatic change in the German plana, which explains the recent fluctuations of the battle. This officer said that on tho night of July 17 the Germans rccrossed the river protected by a strong rearguard and heavy shell fire, and by July 20 the south bank was in tho Allies' hands. On July 21 the German artillery greatly decreased, and the French troops crossed to tho north bank and reported that the German lines wore held by machine-gunners only. Tlio air observers had reported that gun supplies and troops, in the greatest congestion behind tho enemy lines, wero moving northward, and that untransportablo supplies were burning. On, July 23 a terrific German artillery bombardment commenced nt dnwn, and the air observers reported that the German Army vas now moving (south. Germans taken prisoner on July 22 said that the retreat had been abandoned and that the troops had been ordered to hold on to ilio last man. The assumption is that cither von Boehm or the Crown Prince had decided to retreat and that the Higher Command had countermanded the order. The French have advanced north of Pont Binson. Otherwise tho advance has been stayed. Tho total captures during Foch'a present offensive is thirty thousand Germans—Aus.-iN,/,. Cablo Asan. ESTIMATED LOSSES FOR TWO WEEKS GERMANS— 150,000. (Eec. July 28, 5.5 p.m.) Washington, July 20. The Sta»o officials estimate that for the past fortnight tho German losses have totalled 150,000 and tho American losses 25,000. Tho total losses of the Allies are'less than 100,000—fieutcr. (Bee, July 28, 11 p.m.) Washington, July 27. Seventy-two German divisions havo been identified in tho Marno fighting. It is believed that only thirty divisions are now left behind Prince liupprecht's armies.—Ecuter. THE FIGHT AT METEREN ..Itec. July 28, 5.5 p.m.) ~ „, London, July 27. Mr. Philip Gibbs writes: "This morning a futile attack on Meteren was mado by six companies belonging to a German division that had recently arrived in tho lino, relieving a division which the Ana traTians and the Scottish troops had almost destroyed. The Germans advanced resolutely after heavily bombarding the Scottish positions, but were raked by our lire from tho start, and never reached the road through our position, which was their goal. Thoy mado sotuo progress on tho right, but the Scottish infantry drove them back with severe losses, the •enemy onlj gaining a email outpoat."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Aesn.