The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-07-17
lsy THE AssoclAIEp easss)

Are Heavy
4sY TIE AssoctAIE1 aREss)
The German offensive Is IN its
third day and according to the views
Of allied observers, It has no longer
the character Of q general stack. l,
already they declared, worked itself
into; series of local operations. The
success OF at least one of these opera
tiOns, however, would amount to q
considerable achievement for the Ger
mans. .s ~.
What the German high command in,
tended the offensive to be cannot be
surmised, It apparently encountered
defense that was sufficiently stub,
born tot prevent the immediate
achievement of more important objec.
tiyes, and the Germans jave pursded
their usual tactice of making the most
OF local successes along the front
Thus, the offensive now appears
largely to take on the aspect OF a
turning movement against the Rheims
salient
, Germans Make Progress. .s
Reports from the battlefield show
that the Germans during the night
made progress IN two sectors Of the
front. South of the MarHe they at
tackled the positions commanding the
heights on the river fronts. The
French reached two farms north OF
st. kgusn and 4 "a Chs pc onth0d en-,
'bnt there they encountered fresh en-.
emy trOOps, who appeared to have
again forced them back" The Dattle
Is continuing In the slope and In the
wood south. Of the. heights North
OF the MaTpe the turning movement
against Rheims sbecOrnes quite ap'
On Tuesday the Germans had been
held up at Chattllon, and .R6demat
wood. Since that time, they have
forged forward along the line farther
TO- the northeast towards Rheims.
Violent Fighting Today.
Today's reports tell of violent fight
ing in the C0urtOn wood. The point
where the combat is taking place is
not known, but conceding that the
enemy has reached the middle of this
area Of forest lands. he has advanced
about four and 4one-half miles from
Ses TardenOys, which was approx
mately the location Of the line on
Sunday. Here and farther west in
ROdemar wood, the Germans are max.
ing the steadiest and most threatening
gain, pushing southeast toward Eper-
nay, which lies south of Rheims.
East of Rheims. the Germans have
attacked the new French positions on
the south side Of. the vesle. The
French official statement reports that
the attack was failure. @
Fro ,mthis point eastward there is
no report Of fighting. the French Of
ficial statement saying, however, that
their lines have been maintained in.
tact throughout the region east Of
Rheims.
Heavy Hun Losses. 3.
Unofficial reports from the battle
area state that the German losses
since Monday morning are estimated
at 100000. This report, If accurate.
is evidence of the ferocity of the fight
ing.
Reports declare that the situation
is viewed as being satisfactory by the
allied commanders. There will. how
ever, ben an anxious period until the
German turning movement threaten!
ing to pinch off the Rheims salfen:
is definitely stopped.
Huns TaHe Prisoners.
Monday the Germans captured 49,
900 prisoners, according to Berlin. The
first lengthy official statement on the
new offensive did not mention any
decided gain and the statement Of
Tuesday night showed the allied re-
'sistance still strong II not stronger.
The latest German report says the
allies delivered counter attacks on
the Marne that the Germans had local
successes south Of Rheims, and that
the situation is unchanged east OF
Rheims. Forty-one German machines
have been accounted for by French
machines.
Berlin claims the destruction of 81
machines.
On the Italian front. near Monte
Grappa, Italian troops have gained
ground, and have taken nearly 100
prisoners. Vienna says all attacks
were repulsed. The French advance
u pthe Devol Valley in eastern Al
bania continues, and three more vii
lages have been taken from the Aus
trians. .54
Premier Lenine, as head of the Rus.
sian government, is reported to be
about ready to break off diplomatic
relations with Great Britain and 9th
er countries which have arm ed forces
on the Murman coast.