Arizona republican., 1918-07-18
BELIEVE CRISIS |S PAST, PLANS
 FRUSTRATED
American Officers Say Great
 Offensive has Degenerated Into Purely Local Action.
 Counter Attack Possible
Republican A. p. Leased Wirel

WASHINGTON, July 17.-While of ficial reports from General Pershing and Bliss were too belated to permit formal conclusions to be drawn as to the situation on the western front, it was clear that military authorities be- lieved the crisis was past and the en- emy's plans frustrated.
 Neither Secretary Baker nor General March, chief of staff. would express an opinion as to the situation but other officers generally regarded the battle as more than half won.
 As press accounts and the brief off, cial communiques from Paris and Der lin have so far disclosed the situation. the great thrust has been narrowed down in three days of fighting to one active sector where the enemy still was moving sluggshly at last ac- counts.
 May Flank on Reims
 In effect, officers said, the great of fensivc already has degenerated into purely local action on a front of less than 20 miles between the point just east of the original American positions on the Marne in the Jaulgonne sector to the wooded region west of Reims. It is possible that the activity on the German left, in these woods, will result in flanking operation at Reims it. self, but officers here were not in clined to think so. To most observers the center of interest was the twelve mile stretch on the south bank of the Marne which the enemy holds and his thrAst down the river valley toward L-rf txla la me hay y-e hn3 able to force their way some four miles beyond the river. Their crossings, upon which the maintenance of the forward lines and the continuance of the push down the valley depends, were reported to be under direct artil- | lery fire.
 Enemy Lines Menaced Officers looked with particular at tention at the very hopeful prospect of a counter stroke by the allies which they believed might have important results. It was indicated by today's reports that the Germans stand with both Hanks exposed and with their communication lines Seriously men, aced. It was believed that unless the Germans can widen out their positions they will be compelled to fall back to the river or face the possibility of be- ing trapped as the Austrians were on the Piave.
 The extent of any counter movement would depend wholly upon General Fochs available reserves and upon his own campiagn plans. It is regarded as certain. however. that he would not
 overlook an opportunity to annihilate an enemy division or two, possibly the
 bulk of General von Boehm's army. French Airmen Active
 Accounts of the activities of French airmen during the first day of the bat
 tie are reaching Washington. giving g
 vivid picture of the constantly grow
 ing part the air forces are playing ir
 modern war. Tons of bombs were |, dropped on the Germans as the,
 surged forward to cross the Marne , Concentration points far to the rear
 where troops and supply trains waited
 orders were hunted out and deluget l with bombs, while moving columns
 were harassed with machine gun fir, from above. These operations in
 creased the enemy's difficulties ant are still adding to them.
 Information has reached allied cir cles here which creates an impression 9 that the present German stroke wa :. prompted more by internal economi conscientious ana by the state or poll
 tical unrest in Austria and to Jesse extent in Germany than by merel
 military reasons.
 I Austrian Fiasco in Italy It was argued today that the selec 2 ton of the front of attack might due to the necessity of getting forwar V at a time when the military authoritie did not feel justified in pressin
 against known allied reserve concen
 tration in front of Paris and behin V Amiens.
 It is regarded as certain that tn
 Austrian fiasco in Italy played som
 part in the present movement. Tha . disaster had to be offset and at tn Q same time with the army budget i, difficulties in Germany. the effect ( f a successful blow in the west migf Q have been very great at home ES
 tension of the battle line to the east ( d Reims probably was made. in tn - view, because of the anticipation ths , this region would be found to be les z firmly held than the roads to Paris ( '. the channel ports and the cost of suS cess be less proportionately