Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 164, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 July 1918 — AMERICANS BREAK FOE’S MARNE LINE: ADVANCE 3 1-4 MILES [ARTICLE]

AMERICANS BREAK FOE’S MARNE LINE: ADVANCE 3 1-4 MILES

Allies Occupy Chateau Thierry and Brasles and Clear Enemy From East and South of Marne; Prisoners Total 25*000. TEUTONS SUSfAIN TERRIBLE LOSSES With The American Army On The Marne, July 21.—The French and Americans have crossed the Marne, broken through the German front nnFfWpat nf Chateau Thierry and have occupied that city. The German army on this front apparently lk fleeing; m complete route. At last accounts great hordes of Germans were continuing no Organized resistance has been met with so faronly at a P]f ces „ , d Chateau Thierry, which the Germans held ever Since they reached the Marne in their great drive last May, and whieh has southern pivot of their flank facing Paris, was evacuated by them this morning. The French and Americans, after occupying the town, pushed forward, taking the town of Brasles, a mile east of Chateau Thierry. T“ e y also have occupied the heights north of Brasles, giving them a good bridgehead on the north bank of the Marne. . . The Germans did not set fire to Chateau Thierry before leavi g, fbaring the flames would light up their retreat and draw our artillery fire Two hundred civilians greeted the French and Americans as the latter entered the town. These civilians had been herded m a cathedral so they could not witness the German evacuation. , . Driving rapidly ahead toward the northeast, our men and their French allies have advanced three and one-quarter miles at various points north of the river, have increased their prisoner toll to more than 25,000 and have captured more German batteries. Among the prisoners were three German officers, who said they were tired of the war. American gunners captured two German 775. The German retreat across the Marne began Friday under cover of a great smoke screen. Two badly cut-up regiments were left south of the Marne in the German retreat. Allied aviators bombed the bridges across the river and their escape was impossible. ' A German retreat to the Aisne line is not regarded as improbable. The district south of the Marne and east of Chateau Thierry is now entirely cleared of idle enemy. West of Rfheims, where the British were engaged yesterday, the present line leaves the enemy a strip of a bout four miles deep at the greatest depth on a front of about thriteen miles in the Marne valley. That is all he has to show for the big offensive of July 15. The Germans continue to fling reinforcements into the battle and are* bringing up more guns of all calibers in their desperate efforts to stem the Franco-American advance. We have already counted elements of eight divisions opposite us. Our artillery is shelling the Aisne bridges at Soissons. All Saturday night the allies hammered at the widening wedge between the German and Paris as the Germans withdrew north of the Marne, Americans continuing to take prisoners and guns. Allied reinforcement are pouring in to overcome any determined resistance the Germans may attempt.