The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1918-07-23
HEARTS OF. AMERI-
CANS ARE in FRANCE
Thrilling Story of the
Smashing Drive of
Yankees Rouses Ma
ton to Proud Enthus-
iasm and Business
Waits on War News.

WASHINGTON heart OF
American nation was in France July
Is. 1t marched and fought proudly
with the boys who went over the top
| Thursday morning, and still were
calamity smashing their way ahead
| beside their French comrades late
in the day.
1t. was a tale of splendid victory
and daring that news reports, and
even the erse official statements
told. Hour by hour the extent of
the victory grew. What the full
effect of the blow will be cannot be
estimated until details of the action
along the whole twenty-five mile
front from Chateau Thierry to Sois-
sons, from which the surprise attack
was launched, are available.
1t was clear beyond mistake, how
ever, that in the rush of the first
day of this answer of General Foch
to the German attack east and west
of Rheims, the enemy had been
placed in position from which he
may have great difficulty in extrica-
ing himself. Not only may the Ger
man effort west of Rheims and south
ofthe Marine be wholly nullified, but
all they have accomplished since the
battle of the Aisne began months
ago may be overturned.
No Effort to Estimate Results
There was little effort here Thurs
day to measure the scope of the
Franco-American stroke. Officers
were too vitality interested in the
swift development of the attack as
it was unfolded, bulletin by bulletin
to devote much time to cold calcula-
lions, such as form the basis for
military predictions.
1t was the instant news that held
them, from General March to the jul
nior staff officers, and the war de-
partment was place of smiles and
as the boys overseas wrote |
new and glorious pages in American
history.
Secretary Baker had difficulty in |
holding himself to a cool, unhurried |
expression, as he dictated to the |
newspaper men late in the day a |
statement summarizing General Per-
shing's brief reports. Supplement-
ing the news dispatches, the official
account revealed, however, the full
thrilling story of the dash against
he enemy delivered with such gal
antry and such complete surprise
hat it. swept over the first German
ines apparently without wavering,
md rushed on to detectives deep in
he territory the Germans have held
or months.
Business Waited ON War News
During the day Secretary Baker,
General March and war department
'fficials spent much time over the
messages. They read every detail of
he accounts brought in over press
wires, and time after time all other
hanging battlefront was traced out.
Until late in the night officials were
agerly receiving every report that
anne in.
Mr.. Bakers statement paid in
tant homage to the dash and gal
antry of the American forces, and
is citation, as we'll as that of the
Ulcers who surrounded him, was
learly written between the lines.
The most promising consideration
f the counter attack, officers be-
eve, aside from renewed proof of
he fighting qualities of the new
.merican armies, is the fact that
General Foch has now sufficient ,,
orce to unloose a major counter
troke, for the blow Thursday is
othing less than that, however, linn
ed its fixed detectives for the day
lay have been. The supreme COM
lander now has shown clearly that
definite turning point has been
cached, where his resources in men
nd munitions are great enough for
i'm to assume at least an aggressive
efense.
-WeS IL