New-York tribune., 1918-07-17
Germans Pay Heavy Toll
Near Rheims, but Fail
to Gain
Fighting Still Bitter
Crisis in New Offensive Still
To Be Reached, OFF,
cials Believe

WASHINGTON, July l6.-The War
nenartment tonight received informa-
ZION from the American military at
tache at Paris of heavy losses by the
German assaulting armies west and
o.st of Rheims and of the failure of
,be enemy to make substantial prog
ross against the Allied resistance dur
ing the later hours.
The following statement was issued
By the Committee on Public lnforma-
ton at midnight:
"At midnight the War Department
was not in receipt of late cable dis
matches from General Bliss or General
Pershing but it was in communication
with the military attache at Paris. In
formation from this latter source does
not deal specifically with the day
point Of attack and defence, but brings
information of heavy losses sustained
by the enemy's attacking forces and of
his failure to make substantial prog
ress against the Allied resistance dur
ing the last twenty four hours
Washington Optimistic
The aggressive tactics employed by
American commanders in launching
counter attacks to stem the German
drive, and the splendid execution of
these operations by the American fight
ing men. were to-day subject matter
for optimistic expressions by Secretary
Of War Baker and other high army Of
fcials.
While these expressions were gen
orally temperate and the press was
warned against any premature elation
during what is cons idered the prelim-
mary stage OF the latest German effort
to break the Western lines. yet it was
clear in all quarters that the War De-
partment was very we'll satisfied with
reports from General Pershing, and
faced the events of the next few days
confident the Hun viii find much
more effective barrier than during the
first stage of the March offensive in
Flanders
Commenting on the feat of American
troops in driving the Germans back
across the Marine, Secretary Baker
said; "The American spirit and cour-
age were invincible."
The conspicuous success of the
counter offensive operations by Ameri-
can troops was 3 source of particular
gratihcation to officers of the General
S.aif. The Americans were quick to
take the initiative from the Germans
by carrying the battle to them in char
acterstic American fashion.
This was proof to staff officers that
General Pershing and his commanders
IN the field take the view the General
STAFF has taken from the first-that the
way to stop an offensive is to launch
q counter attack. 1t was the failure of
the Allied command to meet the Ger
man attacks with counter blows that
puzzled American military observers
when the first Of the present series of
drives was launched by the Germans
in March.
Secretary Baker and his advisers
however, warned against FIRST day
optimism.' 1t was recalled that the
British staff officials considered the
tin the first day. but the next days re-
ports showed the Fifth Army demoral-
lied ana the British and French seri-
ously menaced at their point Of juno
ton
1T Will require the dispatches of to-
day and tomorrow to Justify deter
minative statements" Secretary Baker
said.
Fighting Still Bitter
The crisis of the new German OF
fensive in France is still to be reached
m the opinion of high officials here
While the first rush Of the enemy APP
parently met with a decided check yes
terday all along the line and fell far
short of the probable objectives
marked out for the first day, both off
clai and unofficial reports from the
'front.' tonight showed that bitter fight
ing was still in progress with varying
results.
Probably in excess of 25o, 900 Ameri-
can troops are involved in one place or
another. as that would be the approx
mate strength of Major General
Hunter Liggett's first army corps, sew
eral divisions of which are known to
oe operating with the French corps
along the Marnc sector Nothing had
reached the War Department late to-
hight, however, to identify the troops
VINO made the brilliant counter attacks
Yesterday at Vaux and in the Jaul
gonne region. which helped materially
Ill stemming the German tide
secretary Baker said to-day he had
no reason to believe that the first
corps was operating as a unit, the in
oications being rather that its divis-
lons were being employed in French
Aaolps. Similarly, divisions from other
nnefcan corps are under French corps
~. t..Cm,nanders and operating as units of
.le ffench corps, while at other points
Hherlcan brlgades. or even regiments
lotn parts of French divisional or
brigade units.
Il, lhis arrangement makes it imposs-
1'v 10 gauge accurately the extent of
american participation.