But the French operations south of the Oise have been
of even greater importance. Between the Oise and the Aisne General Mangin, with American assistance, forced the enemy eastward towards the Forest of Coucy and the Chemin des Dames. The Germans were strongly reinforced and offered a most determined resistance, since General Mangin's advance threatened to turn not merely their whole line on the Vesle, but also their main positions on the Chemin des Dames itself. Nevertheless, by Tuesday the French were on the plateau well to the east of the Soissons-Coucy road, and had gained the northern bank of the Ailette from Coney to the Oise below Chauny, where the river alone separates them from the enemy's main line of retreat.to La Fare. The Americans specially distinguished themselves on Saturday by storming Juvigny, a hill-village north of Soissons.
Previous page
