4th Division Major-General George H. Cameron. comprising: _7th Infantry Brigade_ _Brig.-Gen. B. A. Poore_. _8th_ “ “ “ “ _E. E. Booth_. [Illustration: THE ALLIES’ ADVANCE FROM JULY 20 (20/7) TO JULY 25 (25/7).] The German Retreat. The German High Command now realised that the battle could not be continued in the Château-Thierry “pocket,” where their communications were in danger, and where they were compelled to engage fresh divisions each day. Four days only had elapsed since the Germans were the attacking party, yet they were now compelled to retreat. Although unceasingly harassed by the Allies, their withdrawal was effected methodically, in order to save as much as possible of the formidable quantities of guns and material which had been accumulated in the “pocket” since June. They fired many of their dumps and the villages they had to evacuate were also destroyed after a systematic pillage. Fires and explosions followed one another in quick succession inside the German lines. On the 20th the enemy withdrew a number of divisions from the neighbouring armies and threw their 5th Guards Division against Degoutte’s Army, and two other divisions reinforced by units from the Marne against Mangin’s Army, in an endeavour to stop the latter’s advance and drive it back further west of the Soissons-Château-Thierry road. However, these repeated attacks, although supported by a powerful artillery, broke down before the courage and tenacity of the Allied troops, who everywhere progressed except to the west of Vauxbuin, where some little ground was lost. In the evening the front was as follows: Mercin, western outskirts of Vauxbuin, Ploisy, Aconin, western outskirts of Villemontoire, of Tigny and of Plessier-Huleu, Rozet-St.-Albin, Nanteuil, Sommelans, Monthiers, and Bouresches. South of the Marne the newly-formed 9th Army (General de Mitry), attacked at 6 a.m. The enemy, fully occupied elsewhere, did not offer serious resistance, and De Mitry’s Army reached the Marne in the middle of the afternoon with comparatively little difficulty. North of the Marne the 5th Army attacked on the St. Euphraise-Belval front, with a British corps astride of the Ardre, and in spite of vigorous enemy resistance and several counter-attacks, had advanced by evening to the line: St. Euphraise, the western outskirts of Courmas, eastern outskirts of Courton and Marfaux, Nappes, the northern and north-eastern outskirts of Courton Wood, the eastern outskirts of La Neuville and Belval, and to the south-east of Reuil. On the 21st, the Germans made another powerful effort with four fresh divisions. North of the Ourcq they counter-attacked Mangin’s Army with three divisions supported by tanks, in spite of which, the French continued to advance, occupying Berzy-le-Sec and reaching Chaudun.