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Show H OFFENSIVE mm TALK Attack Probable in Order to Divert Attention of German People From Recent Reverses. ALSO TO BOLSTER UP ARMY MORALE Americans Discover Emplacement Em-placement for Super-cannon Believed to Have Fired Upon Paris. By EDWIN L. JAMES. (New York Times-Chicago Tribune Cable, Copyright.) WITH THE .AMERICAN ARMIES, July 27, 7 p. m. Before the constant pressure of American troops the Germans Ger-mans are now falling back toward the Ourcq river on a line reaching from south of Fere-en-Tardenoia to the northern north-ern top of the forest de Biz in front ; of Charmel. American forces today made an advanee on this front, capturing captur-ing two villages and reaching a point within (deleted) miles of the Ourcq. Captured Cap-tured Germans say they have orders to take up new positions on the northern bank of the Ourcq. Our artillery destroyed de-stroyed many bridges across the stream which is about twenty feet wide and two to three feet deep. German soldiers are wading across the river. We have captured most of the difficult, forest de Fere. New Hun Offensive. One hears now much talk of a new German offensive. Many of these reports re-ports come from German sources. One must admit that despite the losses inflicted in-flicted on the Germans in checking their drive of July 15 and by the allied drive the kaiser at this time is able to launch another effort. It would be in accord with German plans as adopted last March. Furthermore it would detract de-tract the attention of the German people peo-ple from the recent reverses to the crown prince and even a momentary success might well bolster up the unhealthy un-healthy German morale. From German sources come again reports re-ports of an attack to be made against the Engildi front. It Is known that in the last three days' reverses Prince Rup-precht's Rup-precht's armies have been concentrating between Amiens and Ypres. The insertion inser-tion of a new German army under General Gen-eral von Eben between the army of Von Boehm and General von Hutier, besides strengthening the German hold on Sois-sons. Sois-sons. might strengthen Von Hutier's front by leaving somewhat . less for him to do. Divisions in Reserve. The German high command has not put its ultimate strength into the battle between be-tween Soissons and Kheims. Before the hivrd-luck drive of the crown prince, starting July 5, it was estimated the Germans had sixty-live to seventy-rive divisions in reserve. Thore remain perhaps per-haps twenty of these divisions which have not yet been identified in the Sois-sons-Kheims battle, which, because of the fierce nature of the lighting. m&Ans they have not been there. The Germans would hope, of course, by a new drive to weaken the force of the allies' pressure pres-sure on the .Soissons-Rheims sector. The recent attack of the French north of Montdidier may have interfered wilh German plans for action between Montdidier Mont-didier and Oise. In reckoning on German Ger-man attack against the British, one must rcc:ill that the Germans tried Champagne 1 and failed, tried between Uheims and boissons and failed, tried between Sois-sons Sois-sons and Montdidier and failed. The high command lias promised the German people to keen on driving. Lull Only Temporary. During the twenty-four hours up tn last midnight, there was a temporary lull of Infantry action on the Ameran front between the Ourcq and Marne rivers. However, artillery on both sides is very busy shelling the front lines and back areas. Most of the German shelling is done by small guns, with inaccurate aim. (Continued on Page Sixteen) re OFFENSIVE By JERK THEM (Continued from Page One.) The capture of Oulchy-le-Chateau by the French, and the establishment of their positions twelve kilometers west of Fere-en-Tardenois, and with our front line five kilometers to the south of the town the Germans are trying to hold, seriously menace the enemy. Observers report a concentration of German forces on the plateau Tardenols and evidences of German activity in the forest of De Riz, north of the Marne, which might presage a counter-attack there. Captured officers tell of great difficulties the Germans Ger-mans are having supplying troops in the salient south of the Aisne. All railroads j available to them are as well as lost. The highways are being consta.ntiy shelled by American, French and English artillery. artil-lery. The Germans cannot make use of the railroads centering in the Rheims district. At Soissons for more than a week the allied artillery has been controlling con-trolling the railroad yards there. Allies Shell Railroads. About ten kilometers east of Soissons the Germans have the rail head connecting connect-ing the narrow gauge line they have built. This, too, is being shelled. The main highway from Soissons to Chateau Thierry is mostly held by French and Americans, and so is of no value to the Germans. The highway from Dormans to Rheims, via Ville-en-Tardenois, is under Bhell fire. Practically all other important roads in the salient converge at Fere-en-Tardenols, and cutting com-muneiation com-muneiation would follow the capture of that town. In the Bois-de-Cliatelet, southwest of Brecy, taken by Franco-American Franco-American troops, it was discovered yesterday yes-terday emplacements for the super-cannon, which is believed was firing on the Paris district. The Germans succeeded in getting the big gun away, but evidences evi-dences are being carefully studied by artillery ar-tillery experts to learn secrets of the German pride. The shell is 3S0 millimeters, millime-ters, or 15 2-10 inches diameter, and weighs some 1600 pounds. This type of gun was used to shell the Neux district July 15. the day the "Germans started the last drive. The distance from the ocation to the French capital is eighty kilometers. Gunners Sacrificed. The German rear guard defense In the last five days has been carried on by a system of sacrificing machine gunners, who are left in nests while . the main body of troops, unknown to them withdraw. with-draw. These gunners are being picked up by one. twos and threes, sometimes a considerable distance behind the American Ameri-can lines. Yesterday Sergeant Lynch was sent by his captain to carry a message to another an-other unit. His path lay through the J',,s- He arrived at the destination with seven Boches. He had captured six m a bunch and one farther a!on T he capture of Captain Meierkopf' Ger-;Va"v Ger-;Va"v vestP;r!la-. greatly heartened our aviators. Atter a long fight, Meierkopf, Meier-kopf, who has a record of sixteen victories, vic-tories, was brought down behind our lines An American flyer. Lieutenant Avery of Columbus, Ohio, landed and escorted the captive back to headquarters. Made Bad Mistake. Another of our intrepid flyers had worse luck yesterday. He put a bullet through the engine of a Hun birdman, who was forced to land. The American fiver following fol-lowing close to the ground, saw the German Ger-man get out of his machine and start ?Va- T',1? -merin landed and started to chase the German, when he was him-solt him-solt taken prisoner. He had made the mistake of landing behind the German lines Our observation and photographic machines are doing very successfu" work |