Bisbee daily review., 1918-07-17

was still in progress with varying re- suits.
 Advices from General Pershing and General Bliss covering yesterdays op- erations was regarded as satisfactory by the American commanders.
 On the comparatively limited part of the battle front held by the Ameri cans between Chateau Thierry and the Jaulgonne region, tonight's advices in- dicate that the enemy had been oust- ed from a majority of the points where his initial drive had made headway across the river.
 Farther east where the German ap- pear to have occupied a considerable amount of territory south of the MarneI the enemy was still in force and the French, with American aid, were grad ually beating him back toward the river American endorsements were also reported getting into the fighting farther east toward Rheims.
 Probably in excess of 250,000 Amer ican troops are involved in one place or another as that would be the ap- proximate strength of Major General Hunter Liggett's first army corps, sev- eral divisions of which are known to be operating with the French corps along the Marne sector.
 Nothing has reached the war deport- ment to identify the troops which made the counter attacks yesterday at Vaux and in the Jaulgonne region. Secretary Baker said today he had no reason to believe the first corps was operating as a unit, the indica- tions being its divisions were employed in French corps.
 The extent to which the check of the filst day may have upset the en- emy's calculations could not be guess ed by the meager accounts received today that gave any specific informa- tion of military character. It ap- pears certain American forces have held this door against the enemy, promptly restoring the general trend of their original lines wherever the rush of yesterday had swept them back. The major actions in the bat tie developed today immediately tc the east of the original American po- sIti9ns. There the enemy apparently | is firmly lodged across the river and. heavy pressure is being brought by Iranco-American forces to eject him.
 The German position here appears somewhat precarious. It was agreed that hnless they were able without great delay to extend their advance and widen the dent, General Foch mieht swing a flank assault from the American positions to the west in an effort to trap the army of General Bcehm, which Berlin claims crossed the river here.
 The official report from Paris to- night showed the Franco-American forces had recaptured St. Agnan and the heights dominating the Marne val ley behind the German advanced posi- tions. This led to the hope among officers that a wide flanking move ment would be possible which would clear the south bank of the river of the enemy and probably result in import ant captures of prisoners. The Tact the defenders are hitting back hard appears to make it certain that the | Germans have been able to make only | limited improvement of their position.
 This is the first great battle in which the Americans have engaged. If any confusion developed, the swifmess and certainty with which counter attacks were sent home shows that it was quickly overcome.
 Many officers believe the real ob- feet of the drive was to widen the 1 German line along the Marne so a later blow could be delivered with Chateau Thierry and the line north west of there as the center of attack and reduction O. the Compiegne sali- ent as its objective.
 In the event, a coincident attack southe of Amiens aimed directly at Compiegne. it was thought, would have been delivered and if Compiegne fell, | the German advance could either be directed against Paris or the scene be shifted for a fresh blow at the channel ports through the British lines to the north.
 So far as the present drive goes' much satisfaction is taken here in the fact that the German right ran into an abrupt check against the Americans who still hold what will be the very center of assault if a new thrust at Paris is to follow the present effort. | NEnNHANTC THDONU