Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-07-18

With the American Army in France, July
1S.-American storm troops In large numbers
launched, in cooperation with the French, a
powerful offensive on the line to the north oi
Chateau Thierry this morning. The Americans
passed beyond nearly all their objectives includ'
ing the Paris SCISSORS road.
The town of Soissons is now we'll within
the range of the American guns.
GERMANS FACE SURRENDER.
The entire offensive operation begun this
ing the front between the Aisne and the Marine is
going at this hour for the most part better
than had been expected. The enemy so far has been
unable to withstand the shocks the Americans and
their allies have delivered and still delivering.
AS the whole German left flank is menaced the
emy must draw in his troops from the Marine front
risk their being caug mt where they This
means that the finishing blow possibly has been ad-
ministered to his dying offensive.
YANKEES CAPTURE TOWNS.
The towns of Torcy and Civry and the Givry
wood were taken by the Americans in their advance.
The final objectives in the Givry and Torcy sec
tor were reached in about two hours of hard fight
The troops on this part of the front did equally
as we'll those the front further north, taking
quantities of material and prisoners, who continue
streaming back.
Hastily organized counter attacks against the
Americans developed here and there, but all were
broken up and our troops continue to advance.
In one town alone, on the southern part of the
front under attack the FrancoAmerican forces cap
GAIN FOUR MILES
London, July 18.-The French have gained from
two to four miles everywhere the 25-mile front
of their offensive today between the Aisne and the
Marne, according to reports reaching London this
afternoon.
The French have captured several thousand pris-
oners and about twenty guns.
The French move this morning appeared to have
been a surprise to the Germans. The in
which this surprise accomplished may best be
judged from the map which shows great of
forest covering the ground behind the French lines.
Under of these forests General Foch has been
preparing for sometime for the present move
All the way from Beleau to Aisne, the French at
tack launched at day break today 1t what
the British call "full dress show" with every de-
partment, every weapon available IN play, including
the French mosquito tanks. These tanks did !
excellent work at of the most difficult points.
The French have reached point menacing the
most important German railway centers which feed
the entire front west of Reims. The French artil-
lery is within easy sheling distance of these
railways and should be able to make life miserable
for a large section of the German army.
WILL STOP HUN SUPPLIES.
Military attach great Importance TO the lat
eral railway lines around Sossons and say that if
General Foch get his artillery into position to
keep these lines out OF action, he will make the
movement of the German supplies in the whole
tor between Reims and Chateau Thierry impossible.
On the extreme east of the recent German often
sive, the French have reoccupied their old lines for
q distance of three four miles.
North of the Marine the FRENCH have regained
the whole of the Rois wood and the village of Ven
teuil.