South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-07-18
ENEMY PLAN IS
BALKED, BELIEF
French Official at Washington
Confident That Foe Has
Failed in Attempt.

official reports from Gems. Pershing
ard Bliss were too belated TO permit
formal conclusions TO be drawn
wednesday by military authorities
here as 20 the situation along the
front where the German offensive
was still in progress against the
American. French and Italian de-
tenders. IL was clear that they read
press advices as indicating that the
crisis was past and the enemy's plans
frustrated.
Sec'y Baker would not express an
opinion Wednesday as TO what was
TO be expected in France. Gen.
March. CHIEF OF staff. was equally
reticent and deferred a mid-week
conference with newspaper CORE
spondents on the ground that his Of
fetal advices would not permit him
to 90 very far toward making clear
70 his hearers just what is transpir-
ing at the front.
Apparently both Gems. Pershing
and Bliss are observing great eau
ton in formulating their reports.
They have studiously avoided over
optimistic statements from the first
and il is understood that their re-
ports. which have not been made
public, have been confined strictly
to the facts of the great actions that
have been established beyond ques-
ton in every case. War department
officials follow the same practice.
Among officers generally, however, 1t
was obvious that the battle was re
garded as more than half won.
Enemy Moving Sluggishly.
AS press accounts and the brief
official communicates from Paris and
Berlin have so far disclosed the sit
uation, the great thrust, starting
over a sweep OF more than 60 miles,
has been narrowed down in three
days of lighting TO only one active
sector, where the enemy still was
moving sluggishly at last accounts.
Sharp counter assaults by Franco
American forces in this sector indi-
Gated il was thought that still fur
Their restriction of the active line
was TO be expected in effect officers
said, agreeing with the views eX-
pressed both in France and London
today, the great offensive already
has degenerated into a purely local
action on a front of. less than 20
miles. This sector lies between the
point just east of the original
American positions on the Marine in
the Jaulgonne sector TO the wooded
regions west of Rheims.
To most observers the center of
interest was the 12-mile stretch on
the south bank of the Marine which
the enemy holds, and his thrust
down the river valley toward Eper-
nay.
Under Direct Fire.
Even here, however, the Germans
have been able to force their way
only some four miles beyond the
river line at the point Of deepest
penetration and their crossings upon
which the maintenance OF the for
ward lines and the continuance of
the push down the valley depends.
were reported 10 be under direct ar
tillery fire.
Aside from the possibility that
later advices would show that the
German war machine had been got
ten into motion again after having
been begged down by the firm resist
ance of the French and American
troops, officers looked with particu-
lar attention at the very hopeful
prospect of a counter stroke which
they believed might have important
results.
Air Activities Important.
Accounts of the activities of
French airmen during the first day
of the battle are reaching Washing
ton, giving a vivid picture Of the
constantly growing part the air
forces are playing in modern war.
Tons Of bombs were dropped on the
Germans as they surged forward to
cross the Marine. Concentration
points far to the rear, where troops
and supply trains waited orders,
were hunted out and deluged with
bombs. while moving columns were
harassed.
The initial failure of the new Ger
man offensive, so carefully and for
nidably prepared. is characteristic
OF a new phase Of the war, said NJ.
Edouard de Milly. deputy French
high commissioner 10 the United
States. in discussing Wednesday the
results of the first two days of
fighting east and west Of Rheims.
The success of the Franco Amer--
can cooperation, Mr.. de Billy said,
already has been demonstrated, and
he added that the allies can wait for
the future with the same confidence
shown by the population Of Paris
under the long range gun lombard
ment.
The result Of the first two days
fighting is, on half of the front. de-
cidedly in our favor" said Mr.. de
Billy. over the rest Of the front
the enemy succeeded in gaining at
most four miles at the price Of heavy
losses.
Everybody feels that this first
pi,asa of rho C,ern1an offensive is a