In Champagne General Gouraud's steady advance on his right flank
between the Suippes and the Argonne, combined with General Berthelot's advance towards the Aisne north-west of Reims, com- pelled the enemy on Friday week to abandon all his strong positions round Reims, from which for four years he had bombarded that proud but unhappy city. Reims is now out of range of German guns. By Saturday last the Germans had fallen back to the Suippes Valley, with the French in hot pursuit. The enemy has offered the most obstinate resistance on the banks of the Suippes, but the French have crossed the river at several points, and, with Italian assistance, have extended their hold of the Aisne Valley further west, where they occupied BerrY-au-Bac on Monday. Since then General Gouraud has advanced his right flank still further north, thus again outflanking the enemy on his left and forcing him to a fresh retreat.
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