The Offensive of August 1.
Having established themselves on high dominating positions forming a strong line of resistance, the Germans believed they would now be able to check the Allies, who, after fifteen days of hard fighting, would, no doubt, be exhausted. In a semi-official communiqué addressed to the German people, Hinderburg explained and justified his “strategical retreat” and again promised victory, adding that the “decisive blow” had only been “temporarily postponed.”
He was soon undeceived, however, supposing him to have been sincere. On August 1, the battle began again, north of the Ourcq and at the gates of Soissons. The Armies of Generals Mangin and Degoutte, so far from being exhausted, attacked again between Tigny and the Ourcq, their objective being to outflank and carry the wooded Hartennes Plateau, which formed the key to the defences of Soissons in front of the Crise Stream. In the Tigny-Hartennes region violent barrage and machine-gun fire somewhat retarded the Allies’ advance. Between Plessier-Huleu Wood and Saponay the enemy resisted and counter-attacked violently. However, progress was made as far as the line: Grand-Rozoy, Cramaille, south-west of Saponay, and, further to the east, Cierges, Meunière Wood, Goussancourt and Romigny. On the right the Armies of Generals de Mitry and Berthelot, continuing their advance, progressed beyond the Dormans-Rheims road, encircled Ville-en-Tardenois, and advanced along the Valley of the Ardre.
Hartennes fell on August 2, and Mangin pressed forward towards the Crise. Von Boehn’s army fell back for the fourth time, the retreat now being general. Soissons was evacuated, and in spite of enemy detachments of machine-gunners left behind to retard the Allies’ advance, the Chasseurs of the 2nd Division entered the city at 6 p.m. The Crise was crossed throughout its length before nightfall, Ville-en-Tardenois captured, and in the evening the following line reached: Soissons, Branges, Tramery, Romigny, Gueux and Thillois.
The Germans hurriedly fell back on the Vesle, but the Allies harried them vigorously and threw their rear-guard into disorder. On the evening of the 3rd the pursuing armies reached the River Aisne as far as Sermoise, the southern bank of the Vesle from Ciry-Salsogne to Villesavoye, the southern outskirts of Fismes, the Villages of Branscourt, Sapicourt, Courcelles, Rosnay and Gueux-Thillois, and the Aisne Canal north of Courcelles.
On August 4 detachments crossed to the north bank of the Vesle at various points, on which river the enemy was apparently determined to make a firm stand, especially between Unchair and Fismes which, however, the Americans and the French (32nd Division) captured. On the 5th the Germans had only two bridgeheads south of the Vesle, one at Courlandon and the other to the east of Muizon, but they stubbornly resisted the Allies’ attempts to cross the river, re-engaging several of their best divisions. Nevertheless the Allies succeeded on the 7th in gaining a footing on the north bank, east of Braine and Bazoches, and strongly occupied both banks of the river.
The counter-offensive was over. On August 6th Foch was made Marshal of France, Pétain received the Military Medal (the second highest recompense for French commanders), while the Grand Croix de la Légion d’Honneur was conferred on General Pershing.
