The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-07-16


 i'd the left flank of the great battle sar Rheims by Italian divisions, stood line they defended against fierce as-
 At the White House, the President read the account with interest that did not wane. At the war department Sec retary Baker, General March, chief or staff, and other high officers at the de- partment, received eagerly the brief glimpses of the battle flashed across the country in press bulletins from the bat tie front. Every line of the Associated Press report. which wass promptly re- layed to them as the wires brought it in, was studied with growing delight as 1t became evident that the enemy had met with a decided check in the first rush of his greatest effort thus far.
 OFFICIALS PLEASED
 The fact that credit for stopping tho heaviest parts of the assault thus far reported belongs to men Of the first American army corps. added to the feel ing of elation officials had difficulty in concealing
 
 tacks of the American troops at two points sent glow of enthusiasm through the whole war department when the word first came. Before the results were known. the fact that the counter attack had been launched was cheering. Is showed the Americans were meeting their first great test like veterans and that the German attempt to overrun them had failed to ,disorganize or demoralizs their fighting power.
 Then came word that vaux, not only had the enemy been stopped, but his ad- vancing infantry had collided with Amer jeans who first deluged their opponents with machine gun fire, then leaped for ward to disrupt completely the blow at this section that had been in careful preparation for more than 30 days. HURLING BACK OF FOE Meanwhile meagre reports from Lon don said the Marne had been crossed by the enemy at several points. Details were awaited with some apprehension. Hour by hour the story filtered in, but the bulletin that told of the hurling back of the foe in the Condo sector where his first rush had pushed back the Americans out of the salient they held opposite Jaulgonne, did not come until tonight It's message set all doubts at rest. Again the enemy had been out matched by the Americans. He was driven back to the river rim and many prisoners, trapped probably by the de- struction Of their bridges behind them, were taken
 Tonight Secretary Baker, General March and other officials were late ut the department. studying the map upon which this first great trial of the Amel- ican army was taking shape as more uc- tails came. The French official stata- ment fully confirmed the cheering unoffi- cial statement reports that had conls previously It showed the Germans had been virtually held fast along the who.s great extent of the lighting line they had selected. At the clos6 of the first day l of the battle the enemy was no nearer his objective. apparently, than when no poured his masses forward at daylight. DESPERATE FIGHT EXPECTED Further desperate fighting is ex- pected. It is not conceivable here that the German high command will be contented to abandon a project of the scope of todays enterprise without re- peated efforts to overcome his initial 1 failure. The outstanding fact, however, | is that for the first time since tho Ger man thunderbolt was launched against | the British in March. the enemy has l failed to make any appreeiable advance l in 12 hours fighting, although 1t has been held that no major offensive prop Ierly sheltered under artillery preparA- I tion could be stopped short
 1 What tomorrow may bring forth can mot be sold. NO aetailel statement Of conditions along the great battle front lhas come in. There is a firm convic ton here, however, that the enemy's measure has been taken definitely and that the lanc vili held, Ht' natte' ss-Aat force he hurIs against. rarfiecrs lsav be surrendered. but decisive military I victory is believed to be farther<Away for the Germans tonight than 1t has
 tCsntiased ea Pags Nansl