Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1918-07-17
GERMANS BIG OFFENSIVE
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Raids have been carried out by the
British In the Amens region and TO the
north nj Haliuch. The German artillery
is said to be active notably in the region
around the Arras-Leus salient.
hssociate,r Press Summary Issued st p m
Throwing new forces into the battle
10 maintain the strongest pressure against
the Allies, the Germans have not yet
captured an important position. and on
most of the front are being held in check
The heaviest fighting continues along
the Marine and on the plateau east Of
Rheims. Enemy progress on the Marine
is slow, and FTanco-Amcriean forces
have recaptured two towns and heights
commanding the bend in the river at
Dormans rs well as additional prisoners.
Allies Strength Surprised the Foe.
Apparently the allied resistance Mon
day was erenter than the German com
rnand had anticipated. The enemy has
changed his tactics TO strong local attacks
nj vital points instead of continuing a
general assault along the front from
Chatcau- Thierry TO near the Argonne.
In the region If Dorrnans, and east
ward along the Marine, the Germans
have penetrated about FIVE miles. and
now hold both banks Of tho river for a
stretch of about fourteen miles strong
and repeated attempts ~ enlarge their
gains north and south Of the river have
been repused
GERMAN TROOPS N DANGTROVs POSITION.
Unless they ran enlarge their bold on
the RIVER, the troops along the Marine are
IN a dangerous situation should an alfred
counter attack begin
Evidently, the fierrnan purpose in
striving 10 press forward agtride tho river
tn Epernay is n outhank the strong
natural obstacle ~ the Mountain If
Rhelms, which lies between the Marine and
Rheims Attacks against this height from
che west have stopped for the moment
and no effort has been made to attack
Rheims frontaIly.
FRENCH FORCES r~N0vEn ny BLOW
Formidable attempts ty the Germans
81 break the main French line 1T Prtnay.
about ought n1lcs east ~ Rheims have
been broken up by the stubborn re-
sIstance If the French who hold 4 strong
Inc along the Ncslc river.
In the region II failure and Crosne9,
in the hilly country west 81 the Argonne
forest, the Germans have been unable 70
advance farther than the FIRST advance
line. Repeated attacks there have been
repulsed with heavy losses by the .ch.
Monday the Germans captu : 900
prisoners, according to Berlin IL first
lengthy official statement on he new
offensive did not mention any decided
gains and the statement 81 Tuesday night
showed the allied resistance still was
strong The latest German report says
the allies delivered counter attacks on
the Narne that the Germans had local
euccesses southwest Of Rheims ard that
the situation Is unchanged east Of Rheims.
Aerial fighting has been intense French
airncn have accounted for II German
machines and nine balloons. besides de-
stroving five bridges across the Name.
Berlin claims the destruction Of 3 air
planes and four balloons.
Germans Repulsed by Americans.
West of Chateau-Thierry American
troops around Naux have repulsed i
strong German local attack. After the
first setback the enemy made no other
attempts to penetrate the American
positions Except for m increase in
German artillery FIRE on some sectors OF
the British front there has been no other
activity in France.
On the Italian mountain front near
Monte (,rappa, Italian troops have gain
eel ground and taken nearly one hundred
prisoners. Vienna says ali attacks were
repulscd
ITALIANS TAME ALBANIAN TOWNS.
The French advance up the Devoli
valley in eastern Albania continues
and three more villages have been taken
from the Austrians