Bisbee daily review., 1918-07-16
GREAT OFFENSIVE STARTS
Undated Var Lead by the Associated

Undated Var Lead by the Associated
 Press.)
 The expected renewal of the German offensive in France has begun. Fierce battles are in progress on both sides of the famous cathedral city Of Rheims, which since the last offensive along the Marne has stood the apex of a sharp salient into the German line.
 West of Rheims the Germans with the pressure, of large numbers of troops, the unleashing of which was preceded by a veritable hail of high explosives and gas shells. have been enabled to cross the -farne at several places. East of the city. however. they have been held for the smallest of gains by the tenacious resistance of the defenders of the line. Altogether the two battle fronts aggregate about sixty-five miles in length.
 American troops are fighting yali- antly on the sectors they have been holding and at two points have met with notable success.
 At Vaux they not alone broke down a violent attack by the enemy OuS drove him back several hundred yards and only returned to their former DO sitions when the advance of the Ger mans southeast of Chateau Thierry across the Marne made the re-occupa- tion of their trenches of strategic value.
 Along the Marne, between the town of Fossoy and the river Surmelin, where the Germans crossed the Marne, the Americans in a strong counter attack forced the enemy to the bank of the stream. At other points along the river they used to the great advantage their machine guns against enemy elements which were crossing the river on pontoon mridges. killing or wounding many of them e In the counter attack near Fossoy between 1000 and 1500 Germans were made prisoners by the Americans. The captured contingents included com plete brigade staff. The French gen eral in command of this sector sent a cOngratulatOry message to the general in command Of the American troops.
 The Germans in addition to their tremendous expenditure of explosives and gas shells csed numbers of tanks against the lines of the dssend srs and also opened with rGmerous naval Fun bombardments cf towns and cities far behind the battle line, dropping upon them shells from ten tc twelve inch pieces.
 The details. Of the strategic scheme the Germans nave in view have not yet been unfolded. It seems the main Ob- jective in the first stages is the throw ing of their lines sOuthward on lOih sides of Rhsins, snveloping that ciJy. The gaining of the southern bank Of the Marne and he strengthening out eastward of their battle line toward Verdun also may be ill the piOgram of the German hign cofnmand SuCCess in these movements would be of great strategic value to the Germans for an attempt on Paris.
 While the Germans are making their drive in the south the British around Ypres are pecking away at the German lines with success as regards the gain ing of ground and the taking of prison CTS the French and Italians in Albania are keeping up their spectacular drive against the Austrians and the French and Italians fin the mountain region of the Italian thester daily are harass ing the enemy with patrol attacks of considerable violence and lombard ments
 In the few instances. where the Au- strians in this region lately have tried to take strategic positions they have met with almost instant repulse. In Palestine, Turkish and German tTccps penetrated British positions north Of Jericho, but almost immediately vere ejected with the loss. of more than 5G0 men made prisoner, including 26O Ger mans.
 British and American troops now are in control of the entire Murman coast in northern Russia. according to unofficial adyices. 1t is through this territory that it is hoped ultimately to lend aid to Russia by way, Of the Are tic ocean. In violent fighting with the bolshevik troops in middle Russia, CZechO-Slovak forces have captured the important commercial city of Ka- gan, which lies on the Volga river, 430 miles east of Moscow.