Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-07-18
BIGGEST OFFENSIVE
BY ALLIES THIS YEAR
French Gain Two to Three les on Weny Mile rontCaqe Several
thousand Hun Prisoners and Twenty Guns Attack Extends From
I,e5, Beeau to Aisne River Americans Go Over Top in
Dashing Surprise Attack Northwest Of Chateau
Thiery-Fochs Moment Has Come.


four miles everywhere on the twenty-five mile front of
their offensive today between the Asne and the Marne
according to reports reaching London this afternoon
The attack is the biggest offensive made this
year by the allies.
The French have captured several thousand prisoners
and twenty guns
tack launched at daybreak today 1t what the
British call progress show with every department. every
weapon available ii play, including the French mos
quito tanks These tanks did excellent work of
the most difficult points.
French Move Complete Surprise.
The French this morning appeared to have been
surprise The in which this surprise was accom-
pished may best be judged from the map which shows
great area OF forest covering the ground behind the
French lines Under of these forests General Foch
has been preparing for time for the present
This is the moment for which he has been looking,
said military authority today And if all goes well his
senddy executed counter attack should bring the whole
Geran offensive the Rheims sector to halt immed
ately.'
Menace Hun Rail Centers.
The French have reached point menacng the most
important German railway centers which feed entire
front west of Rheims. The French artillery within
easy shelng distance Of the railways and should be able
to make life miserable for large section of the German
North Of the Marine the French have regained the
whole of the Rois wood and the village OF Venteuil
If the attack of the allies is what appears to be- it is
serious threat the whole German position north Of the
Asne Rapid progress by the allies to the eastward would
compel the abandonment OF the German offensive which IS
now apparently directed toward Epeney to the south Of
Rheims mountain 1t might if successful bring about
German retirement from the whole Marne-Sossons-
Rheims salient with potential disastrous results to the
enemy in the loss of men, guns and material.
German Supplies Endangered.
Military attach great Importance to the lateral
railway lines around scissors and that General Foch
can get his artillery into position to keep these lines out Of
action he will make the Of the German supplies
in the whole sector between Rheims and Chateau Thierry
impossible
On the extreme east Of the recent German offensive
the French have reoccuped their old lines distance Of
three or four miles,
Measuring from the Aisne river, around the Chateau
Therry salient and Massignes in the Champagne the east
ern limits of the present struggle the length of battle line
is about 1O5 miles, which is the widest front which has
been in active battle he western front since the early
days Of the war
Yank Storm Troops Cooperate.
American storm troops in large numbers launched in
line to the north of Chateau Thierry this morning.
The Americans passed beyond nearly all their OBJ
iectives including the Paris s-Sossons road.
The town Of scissors is well within the range OF
tIp American guns. AL .as