South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-07-27
HUNS HOPELESS
OF SUCCESS IN
LATEST DRIVE
Assault Undertaken on July
18th in Desperation Over
Failure in Previous
Attacks.

when the Germans started their
assault July i il was not only their
afth big offensive OF the year. but.
in the opinion Of military experts.
the most desperate one of the five.
Having been practically on he
defensive since June IL save for
their half-hearted assault on
Rheims on July 1, the concerted ef-
fort starting on the 18th proves
conclusively that the interim, that
is the time between June II and
July ), was spent IN recovering
from former enga gements and re-
organization for what military eX-
perts term. the Huns last hope
During the So days OF semi-activ-
ity by the enemy. the allies con-
Quoted local onensives from Ypres
down TO Chateau-Thierry. harassed
the enemy with air raids on lines
of communication and bases OF sup
ply. broke up formations injured
his lines Of formation and won many
valuable strategic positions.
Take Strategic Ground.
Not the least OF these positions
was northwest OF Chateau-Thierry
where from June 10 June p, and
again on July 9, the Americans gain
ed valua bic ground, including the
strategic position at NauX which
served 10 strengthen the French po-
sitions As far north as the SCISSORS
sector and also as a protection at the
Marne from an enemy crossing west
OF Chateau -Thierry.
Further positions won from the
enemy during that time include east
OF the forest OF Nieppe in the Lys
salient. north and south of the
Somme before Amiens. northwest
and southeast of scissors.
4 year ago the imperial crown
prince. from April until nearly the
end OF July. attempted 10 break the
French lines between Rheims and
the Argonne forest. alternating his
attacks here with others on the
Aisne. these last principally 10 re-
cover the Chemin des Danes. He
Jailed. using up 20 divisions IN three
months. with a total casualty list
which is said To have approached
half a million. Then the front be
came comparatively static until on
The first OF the present month. the
Germans attempted a rush from
the semicircIe ON Rheims with three
divisions. supported 10y two others.
and were either held or made 10 re-
unouish newly acquired positions
bv barrage and infantry counter-at-
tacks
Battle OF PiCardy.
The offensive begun on March
e. called the battle Of Picardy.
was launched from a e0-miIe base
and attained fo-mile perpendicu-
lar. with It's verteN on the Somme.
~i> miles east of Amiens. It's objects
were twofoId. CD To reach Able
Vile and the sea with the cororary
or isoIating the armies north OF the
river and investins the channel
ports and 90 20 annihilste the
French army or force il back on
the defenses Of Paris. with what
ever coroIlary that situation might
produce on the French body polite
Gut the fsnks of the Picardy
ealient heId-in the north from the
ridges protecting Npres and Arrss,
on the south hy the French posi-
fions ON the Chemin de- Danes and
tire watersheds OF the Auette. Oise
and Aisne.
4 series or attempts 10 force the
southern barriers having failed. the
Germans on April O. attempted to
force the northern ones. They thus
de, cIopcd between Npres and Ar
ra from base OF 20 miles. with a
rerrendIcular " J.. whst Is known
rhe las salient This vas nearer
7pros than it was 20 Arras, and for
a miles north Of Arras the line IN
ding the Lens sector. has remain
o- static 20 this day
Return To Future.
The Iys salient being held on it,
eankS lust as the Picardy salient
was held the Germans next move
Was TO reuun to their failure at this
-aH-ut- southern barriers
Ou May cd they launched their
fuIrj offensive from Noyon over a
FRONT Of 40 miles o. Rheims. They
CROSSED the Aisne on an lS-miie
'front.' and reached The Marne on a
siN mile front between Chateau
Tb-- -rry and normans. They man
aEed to deploy 10 some extent on
!coNTINUED On PAGE FIVE