The sun., 1918-07-19
WILSON AND BAKER
CHEERED BY NEWS
Pershing Sends Word U. s,
Men Fight as Divisions and
as Units With French.
FOCH MASTER MOVE SEEN
May Be 100000 Americans in
Battle, Including Rainbows,
Washington Says.
srecial Despntch to Tns sux.


WASHINGTON, July 1s.--In what 10
regarded as one OF the master counter
strokes OF the war American troops
participating for the h.st time In
grand offensive have carried the nag
forward beside the Tn Color ana
planted II within sight Of Scissors.
.oficiai confirmation Of to-day's Of
fensive begun by the Americans and
the French reached the War Depart
nent from Cen. Pershing this after
noon. 1t caused a feeling Of jubllation
throughout the city. Nothing since
the war began mas so excited official
circles here as the news that American
divisions--regulars. Marines and prob
ably National Guard troops-were
'over the top" at last and sweeping
forward through the German lines.
"Its only the start" was the general
comment OF gray haired army officers.
who had longed for the day when their
labor would see fruition.
Secretary Baker found u difiicult to
conceal his Joy. President Wilson re-
ceired the press bulletins at the White
House curing the afternoon and was
reported as being pleased beyond
measure"
Baker Issues Statement.
This was the statement which Secre-
tary Baker Issued late this afternoon
after Gen. Pershing's cable had been re-
ceived:
"The Department has received from
Gen. Pershing an Official confirmation Of
40 H. sS1t nm
along the lines carried in the newspaper
dispatches. American troops are par
ticipating both as complete divisions and
as units in association with the French.
1.-THE first objectves seem everywhere
to have been attained. and while no
accurate account has been made II ID
clear that many prisoners have been
taken and guns and other war materials
have been captured.
"Our official reports also confirm the
fact that the American soldiers ad-
vanced with the greatest dash and gal
lantry and were still advancing when
last heard FROM
Both Secretary Baker and Gen. March
were at the War Department to-nigh,
hoping to get further details from Gen
Pershing. but it is understood that none
had been received up to a late hour.
In launching this counter stroke al
the western side OF the German wedge
resting along the Marine army Officers
Of the General Stan believed that Gen
Foch has possibly repeated his stroke
at the Marine with consequence as fatal
and far reaching for the Germans. The
elation felt here at its initial success is
the greater because Of the participation
of Americans in what may prove to have
been a decisive stroke.
About 100000 Men In OnensiSe.
7, was estimated that at least 200 0OC
ynust have participated in TODAY Noffen
sive launched on a twenty-five mile
front. Secretary Baker refused to hazard
even A guess an to the number OF Amer,
lean. participatinr but the opinion o,
ofYicers in the War Department Is tina,
three American divisions at a minimum
dWisons would mean more than 100 ,oot
Americans.
IL Is assumed mere that the FIRST ano
second DIVISIONS OF regulars ana Ma
rines COMMANDED by Ma,or-Gehs. bui
Iard ana sunny certainty took part ~
tne OFFENSIVE ana tna' .ne ,alnoow ~,
VISION anu poss,o,y ,he InrH ,seco'.'
Nauonai nuaru DIVISION were aIso en-
saseu, ine .i,, ~, ,s.on -, Ui .s u Sa.
T',,',.,e nLia,' i.a,,,, ~ 3..
80 ,n .naao,, 40,
~. as 49, Wy
40 ,,,o,ors =, Can,,onv ga pa,io,,
Wa ann.r.n,i,, ao,sS a., shoa,, ,roons
No ranor, ha. come IN tho Ia q, twn dar,
,aoa rdIny tho painhou, Div,.,or h,t *,
i,,,nrass,nr 10 hara IN, +, 10. haa1, on'
a-nt,ng a,readv south ~ tha M,rna
~ $500 rat,on tor ,ht. no,,,,ar -,
..n.,,,a Co. r., =. tai;sved 80 ,.v,
-s,s.as 800. ,,,,,n a,ar,,,, IL. ~
e ,, ~"
ne -" ,.,!,sss .n'. vi.
o'o's wy II, ','' my e".eii'
eonne p,opao,. ue"s NJ up IRON
sou'n Oh 'ne H"arhe' WINE buiiaru vet
Grams Vi tue r"s' DNis'on' IL IL De
veVed, were trough. over from I'M
Montdioier region. lhese troops wer'
propaoiy preferred as veterans
M"tor TRUCKS Move Up troops.
Reports Indicate that troops yer,
moved IN In motor trucks hrinp,n,
their artillery with them. the wood