North of the Ourcq, General Mangin’s Army progressed rapidly on the great Soissonnais Plateaux, the average advance being more than four miles, and at the end of the day the line reached was as follows: The high ground north of Fontenoy, Mercin, western outskirts of the Montagne-de-Paris, the heights west of the Crise Valley, Vierzy, Villers-Hélon, Louâtre, Ancienville, and Noroy-sur-Ourcq. Its left was less than two miles from Soissons, while mounted patrols pushed forward to the outskirts of that city. South of the Ourcq, over rough, difficult ground, General Degoutte’s Army advanced, on an average, three miles, and reached the following line: East of Marizy-St.-Mard, the western outskirts of Neuilly-St.-Front, Cointicourt, Courchamps, Licy-Ceignon, Givry and Belleau. Along the whole front, more than 10,000 prisoners, numerous batteries of artillery, and huge quantities of material had been captured. The unexpectedness of the attack prevented the enemy from organising serious resistance, although they engaged four fresh divisions in the centre and, towards 6 p.m., succeeded in retaking Vierzy, which, however, they were unable to hold. In the meantime, French and Italian forces continued their counter-attacks on the other side of the “pocket” without, however, making appreciable progress. At 4 a.m. on the 19th the infantry and tanks attacked again. The enemy was in a critical position as, were Soissons to fall and Mangin’s Army to slip in along the Aisne, Von Boehn’s communications would be cut and his army taken in the rear. The Germans engaged their last available reserves (four divisions), and, clinging desperately to their positions on the River Crise in front of Soissons, counter-attacked furiously. They succeeded in advancing slightly along the Soissons-Villers-Cotterets Road to a point east of Chaudun (the Moroccan Division was heavily engaged there, and also at Chazelles), but were driven back everywhere else, in spite of their frantic efforts to push forward. Mangin’s Army reached Courmelles, the western outskirts of Villemontoire, Parcy-Tigny, the western outskirts of Plessier Huleu and Rozet-St.-Albin. [Illustration: COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF JOHN J. PERSHING.] Degoutte’s Army captured Neuilly-St.-Front, the plateau east of Monnes, and the heights north-east of Courchamps, progressing beyond the Priez-Givry line. In two days about 17,000 prisoners and 360 guns were captured. The situation of the German Army was becoming more and more critical. In the neighbourhood of Parcy-Tigny, the Allies were only about a mile from the Soissons-Château-Thierry Road, and within nine miles of the Fére-en-Tardenois Railway Station. The Germans were consequently no longer able to use their main north-south road of communication, and their only railway was within range of the Allies’ guns.