Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-07-17
TIDE SETS TO ALLIES

Associated Press eurnmarv fssued ~ > = ~
The German offensive j, IN its third
day and. according to Tho views 81 En-
tente observers, il no longer has tie
character 81 a general attack. It already
they declare has worked itself iHto
series Of comparatively local operations.
The success Of NJ least one ~ thr
operations would amount TO a consider
able achievement for the Germans. how
ever much il might laIl short Of their
original designs.
Turn 10 Local Raids
What the German high command
intended the offensive 10 be cannot be
surmised Il apparently encountered a
defence that was sufiicient'v stubborn II
prevent The immediate achievement Of
more important obieetives, and the
Germans have pursued their usual tactics
on making the most Of local successes a.
various points along the front.
Thus the offensive now appears largely
to take on the aspect 81 a turning move
ment against the Rheims salient.
Reports from the battle field show
the Germans during the past night made
progress in two sectors Of the front.
South Of the Marine. they attacked the
positions on the heights commanding the
river crossings, taken by the French in
their counter offensive on tuesday.
The French reached the BOurdonnerie and
Clos Milon farms north " St Agnan.
and La Chapelle- Monthodon, but there
they encountered fresh enemy troops
who appear 70 have again forced them
back. The battle is continuing on the
slopes and in the woods south OF the
heights.
Further east the Germans seem to
have made little or no progress in their
attempt 10 debouch from the BOugulgny
wood and through the village Of Nesies-
Routed By French.
Nearer the Marine, the Germans ap-
Darentiy took some ground southwest
Of Yenteuil. near NiOnvOisin, but
counter attack by the French elected
them from this locality.
North of the Marine the turning move
ment against Rheims becomes quite
apparent. On Tuesday the Germans
had been held up al ChatillOn and Rode
mat wood. Since that time- the Ger
mans have forged forward along the
line further to the northeast toward
Rheims.
Today's report tells of violent fight
inc in the Courton wood, but does not
tell of the result Of the struggle there
The point in this wood where the COM
BAT is taking place Is nOt known, but
cOnceding that the enemy has reached
the middle of this area Of forest land. he
has advanced about four and One-haif
miles from Fere-En- IaTdenOiS, which
was approximately the location Of the
line on Sunday. Here and further west
in ROdemaI wood the Germans are
making the Steadiest and most threaten
ing gains, pushing southeast toward
Epernay, which lies south Of Rheims.
Repulsed At Yrigny.
Nearer Rheims the Germans have
been repulsed at Vrigny and now lighting
is reported in the district Immediately
surrounding the cathedral city.
East Of Rheims, the Germans have
attacked the new French positions on
the south side of the Fesle, 20 " hich the
French re.ired on Tuesday. The French
official statement reports the attack vas
a failure.
From this point eastward there is nc
report Of lighting, the French official
statement saying, however. that heir
lines hayebeen maintained intact through
out the region east Of Rheims
Germans Lose 100000 Men.
Unofficial reports from the battle area
say the German losses since Monday
morning are estimated al 100000. This
slaughter, il the report BE- accurate, IS
evidence OF the feroCity Of the lighting
and the mighty efforts being made By
each Of the coniesting armies.
Reports declare the situation Is viewed
as being satisfactory BY the allied COM
manders. There will, however, be anxious
periods until The German turning threat
ening 10 pinch of the Rheims salient
is definitely stopped. An interesting
feature of the sighting is that the French.
according to unofficial reports, have lost
no cannon.
Continued on page 9