New-York tribune., 1918-08-01
German Press Battle Enters
OnabletoFlide See-Saw Stage,
toch's Victory Butt uryHolds
People Gradually Realizing
Hindenburg Has Really
Suffered Defeat
By George F. Steward
Especial Gable to The Tribune)

Copyright, 1918. By The Tribune Assocauon)
A AMSTERDAM, July 81. The
German press generally has evident
ly received orders to regard General
Foch's whole offensive as a great at
tempt to break through which has
failed. His whole scheme has been,
according to the Hamburger Frem
denblatt," to create public opinion,
and his strategy is treated as a
small-minded attempt to gain land,
an object which cannot affect Hin
denburg's greater IDEAS for final sue
cess by crushing the enemy forces.
The German public has gradually
become more accustomed, however, to
the idea that Hindenburg has really
suffered a defeat. Headquarters
correspondents have been allowed to
give something like a description of
the terrible nature of Foch's on
slaught on the surprised German
troops, and it is becoming increasing
ly clear that the Germans suffered
enormous losses. The fact is now
openly admitted in the description
which their headquarters CORE
spondent has communicated to the
"Preussische Zeitung."
Germans Surprised.
Writing after the close of visit to
tie section in the scissors area de-
Tended by Saxon troops. he says the
Entente troops attacked in strong force
and that their plan of action was we'll
considered ard we'll executed. They did
rot open the fight with destructive
artillery fire, but advanced in massed
formation, completely surprising the
German troops, who had expected a
preliminary bombardment. The at
tackers made use of thick clouds Of
gas to approach as near as possible to
the first line, and succeeded in getting
into the German trenches.
The left wing was attacked from be-
being rolled UP. Despite this, the Ger
mans defended themselves heroically
and never left their positions. Those
who were not killed fell into the hands
of the enemy Only 100 men were left
Of the regiment on the left. The enemy
tried to work his way to the Aisne and
was practically IN back of two other
regiments, one of which was attacked
from the flank and behind
1t maintained itself, however. on the
ridge west Of Pcrnant but meanwhile
the Allied troops had reached the next
flank, that Of Naux. and attacked the
troops at Pernant from behind Here
the bulk of the regimenta stafs of the
remaining regiments fell into the
hands of the enemy because no sup
port could be offered to the whole of
the regiment on the right wing, which
stood at Ambleny, on The Aisne, and
had been completely surrounded and
cut off from communication. On the
regiments right was the Aisnc, over
which there was no bridge and which
was unwadable This regiment and
the remainder of the others were Or
dered to figh. their way back. The ex-
ecution of this order became one of
the greatest achievements of this regi-
ment.
On the other side Of the river the
dangerous situation of the troops was
observed and the. pioneers crossed the
river on boats and brought back as
many comrades as possible After this
IL rctrea. was undertaken on both
banks under heavy enemy ire and the
remainder finally joined their comrades
in the new line. where the new sys-
&an docancn Ind hncn In fei