ENEMY'S POSITION IS CRITICAL

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 21, 24 July 1918, Page 8

ENEMY'S POSITION IS CRITICAL

RETREAT MAY BECOME A ROUT

DESPERATE EFFORTS TO ESCAPE THE ALLIES' CLUTCHES.

(Received July 24, 1.50 p.m.)' LONDON, 23rd July.

The Germans' energies are being concentrated in a series of desperate rearguard actions in the hope of extricating the bulk of the forces from the clutches of the Allies. The Allies are advancing simultaneously at three points of the compass. The enemy's position is critical in view of the relentless pressure by General Foch, which may stO' turn the retreat into a rout. To avoid this exports are of opinion that the enemy must draw still more largely on his reserves, probably on thoa« facing the British. Unless they receive such help it will be 'impossible for the Germans to cross the twenty-four miles of rugged country to the north bank of the Aisne, including the crossing of the rivers Ourcq, Vesle, and Aisne.

The ruggedness of the country between the Marne and Reims accounts for the desperation of the fighting there, enabling the Germans to prolong the defence. Nevertheless, the advance of the British in collaboration with the French was most important, as it demobilised large German forces, necessitating drafts being brought from the reserves.

The inactivity of the enemy infantry north of the Ourcq is semi-officially ascribed to the enormous losses, which are calculated from the fact that in front of General Gourand's army alone 15,000 were put out of action by a hundred guns which were unmasked only when, the assaulting waves crossed the covering zone and approached the real line of resistance. ' .- ,!