Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-07-18

1t is along the left leg of the. U
that the allied onslaught began this
morning. Behind the allied lines is
the forest of Villers-Cotterets with
a network of strategic wagon roads
and three railway lines. In front OF
them there is an important railroad
line running southwark from Sois-
sons to Chateau Thierry, presumably
used as "A supply artery for a large
proportion Of the ehemy troops
along the Marne river. This railway
was about four miles from the allied
front when the attack was started
to-day.
If the attack of the allies is what
1t appears to be, ii is Il serious threat
to- the whole German position south
of the Aisne. Rapid progress by the
allies to the eastward would compel
the abandonment of the German Of
'fensive which is now apparently di-
rected toward Epernay, to the south
of Rheims mountain. 1t might, If
successful, even bring about Ger
man retirement from the whole Sois-
sons Marne- Rheims salient, with po-
tential disastrous results to the en-
emy in the loss of men, guns and
material.
American Factor Unknown
During the past three weeks the
French have carried out a number
of local operations southwest of Sois-
sons, along the line where the pres
ent allied effort is being made. BY
these operations, the French line
from the legion of Ambleny, south
of Fontenoy. to Longpont. nearly
eight miles further south, was ad-
vanced and Strengthened. Before to.
days attack began the French held
positions along series of ridges CT
five-mile line from Ambleny to St
Pierre Aigle. and were in strong en-
trenchments further south.
The part American troops are TAX.
ing in the allied counter blow is as
yet unknown. The line mentionet
in the official statement from Paris
however, includes a section of the
positions held by the Americans il
the neighborhood of Chateau Thi.
erry. General Pershing's men are
known to be at Belleau and they
have been mentioned as being a,
far north as Torcy. on the south sid,
of the Clignon river, above BelleaU
wood.
Battle Line 1O5 Miles
Measuring from the Aisne river
around the Chateau ThierrN salient
and thence to Massiges in the Cham.
pagne, the eastern limits of the pres
ent struggle, the length of the bat
tie line is about los miles. which i.
the widest front that has been il
active battle on the western from
since the early days of the war.
Oticial reports appeared to show
the German stroke against th,
Observation-Disclosures line ma
not gained further ground owe
night. At Nanteuil-la-Fosse the re
gion southwest of Rheims. a heav,
German attack was crushed, whil
an assault by Guard regiments nortl
of Prosnes, east of Rheims, wa
broken by the allies.
German Gains Small
According to unofficial reports 20
day, the Germans have made SOM
slight progress south of the Marine
( in the region north of St Agnan. 4
the southwest of Dormans, but thi
advantage was apparently only local
What appears to be a more import
ant local success by the French il
reported from the eastermost poin
of the front south of the Marne. TIL,
French are said to have recaptureC
Montvoisin. Chene-la-R Refine. and i'm
portant heights in the vicinity o
these villages commanding the rive
Marine. Italian troops fighting in tn,
area between the Marne and Rheim!
are said to have recaptured CIarizet
two miles northeast of Bligny.
British Gain Grows
Coincident with the allied attacl
south of the AiSne, the British have
attacked southeast of Nillers-Bre
tonneuX, on the Amiens sector. Thi:
assault, which was on a front o
more than a mile. advanced the Brit
ish line, it is officially stated.
The fourth day OF the offensive
finds the Germans struggling des-
perately to develop the successes
along the river and between the
river and Rheims. Enemy progress
has been slow and at an enormous
cost in casualties.
Attack After Attack
Attack after attack is being hurled
lasainst the allied troops in these
two important sectors. In many
places the enemy has been repulsed
completely, while his gains have
been made in the face of strong re-
sistance.
South of the Marne, despite heavy
bombardments and the use of fresh
troops, the Germans have made nc
great gains. The situation there is
rather uncertain, as villages and
heights are constantly changing
hands in the desperate fighting. I'M
mediately south of Dormans. where
the enemy has made his greatest
penetration south of the river
about three miles-French and
American troops have gained some
ground north of ST. Agnan. Astride
the river toward Epernay the Ger
mans are near Montvoison, an ad-
vance of about six miles, but they
have not been able to spread their
progress to the south.
Americans Improve Positions
In the woods and valley west OF
the forest of the mountain OF
Rheims, the great natural obstacle
south of the city, the Germans have
driven the Italians and French to
within five miles of the Rheims
Epernay Railroad, the only line of
transportation into the city yet held
by the allies. Heavy fighting is TAX
ing place about Pourcy and Nan
teuii-La-Fosse, which mark an
average advance of about five miles
since Monday. 1t is more probable
the Germans will try to get between
the river and the forest of the noun
tain of Rheims than to storm the
mountain from the west. Pourcy is
on the western edge of the forest.
Between Dormans and Chateau
Thierry, where the Americans have
the largest forces IN the line, the
the Americans improved their po-
sitions slightly but further opera
tions have been hampered by a
heavy rainfall The GarpoanS main