New-York tribune., 1918-07-19
Race of Next Few Days Is
for Control of Rheims
and Epernay
New Task Ahead
OF American F orces
Pershing's Men Likely To
Be Called On to Clear
North Bank of Marne
By Arthur S. Draper
Especial Cable to The Tribunc)


LONDON, July 1S.-The first i'm
petus of Foch's troops carried them
forward three or four miles on the
whole twenty-fve-mile front attacked
early this morning between Fontenoy,
on the Aisne, six miles west of Sois-
sons and Belleau, northwest Of Cha
teau Thierry.
The advance was especially deep
along the Aisne Valley. Thousands
of prisoners were taken and consider
able number OF guns. 1t is uncertain
how far American forces are involved,
but the American batteries were re
ported This morning to be helping
Foch's artillery
Foch's aim in his advance along the
Ourcq Valley is to cut the line Of the
railway running south to Nanteuil
which feeds the Germans along the
Marne.
New Task for Americans
The Americans will likely be called
upon to clear the north hank of the
Marne as soon as the movement fur
ther north goes forward and comes
at Chateau Thierry.
Fochs other objective is Scissors,
through which runs main east and
west railway to Rheims, feeding the
German positions to the south. Foch s
counter offensive is delivered in de-
fence of Rheims and Epernay. He be
lieves that offence constitutes the best
form of defence and has seized this
opportunity to carry out in practice
what he has been preaching during his
whole military career.
The Germans have now abandoned
all their offensive efforts except di-
rectly around Rheims. The French lost
the small crest south Of Dormans, but,
generally speaking, south of the Marine
the positions have stabilized.
Gains Favor French
Most of the small gains have been in
French favor, notably directly south cf
Oeu.Dy, where the French have retaken
the high ground overlooking the Marne.
The French have also recaptured Mont
voisin-
IN the Champagne Foch has success
fully reoccupjeG his original line on
the extreme right between Beau-Sej Jour
and Massiges- According to one re-
port, American troops are holding the
extreme right of the French line here.
German activity Is now entirely cen
tired in the pincers around Rheims.
Between the Marine and Vrigny the
Germans have delivered a violent drive
which the French, assisted by two
crack Italian divisions, have stopped.
The fnrthest point reached by the Ger
mans was southwest of Nanteuil-la-
from the Epernay- y-Rhei1ns connections
through the forest of Rheims Noun
tains- The French stopped this dan
gerons movement by their counter at
tack Yesterday
Smash Prussian Guards
The French retook Nanteuil. re-
entered Kings Wood and recaptured
Nantenil which had fallen into Ger
man hands The French also smashed
an attack by Prussian guards yester-
day near Prunay.
The number of German divisions
actually identified at present remains
about the same, namely thirty, so that
the Germans still have great numbers
OF mtn to throw IN at point chosen
by Ludendorf- Indications point to
further big German effort between
Rheims and the Marine Foch is sup
P4eHentliS tne 0etenSe OF this line by
counter offensive menacing the Ger
man rear at the opposite end of the
Soissons-Rheims salient
The next few days Will be race
between the Crown Prince and Foch
the former endeavoring to take Rheims
and Epernay before Foch brings such
pressure TO bear on his rear that thf
Epernay operation will have to be
brought to complete stop
Foch's Blow Opportune
Foch's offensive is the biggest coun-
ter stroke undertaken by the AlIies
since the spring of 1917 and probably
signallZes the moment when Foch con-
slders that the Germans have shown
their hand The moment perhaps also
has arrived when, after defeating
thirty German divisions, Foch consid.
ers the Allies numbers sufficiently
neari equal to the German for the Al,
hes to assume the initiative.
foch has begun his offensive from
an excellent natural jumping off place
and from points carefully improved b1
ser1es of local operations. The often.
slve also has the advantage of beinq
directed against positions the German
mad not had time to consolidate. Focl
SAW his opportunity and seized the
psychological moment TO strike.