South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-07-16
BELIEVE FIRST
BLOWSOF DRIVE
ARE FAILURE
Washington Waits Outcome of
New Attack, Confident of
Final Breakdown of
Hun Plans.

Internatieuai News Service:
WASHINGTON. July 16.-Conh-
dent of the final outcome of the
great battle now in progress i'm
France. war department officials to-
day were piecing out the scanty dis
patches available 90 learn the story
o. the struggle The outcome still
remains in doubt 10 will be in prog
ress several DAYS very likely. So the
military experts are unanimous in
their belief that the Germans are
being held and that their losses TO
date in this. their NTH effort 10 win
victory by the sword have been the
largest in any previous attempt
Not alone in killed and wounded
are these losses measured, but due
u the various counter attacks, it is
evident that they have lost i'm prison
ers record breaking number Of
shock troops.
Regulars and Marines Bear Brunt
The regular army divisions of the
United States army with the marines
are bearing the brunt of the fight
ing. il is understood here. These
troops comprise among the best in
our service and they have shown
tnat they CutClassed the picked Ger
man shock troops by the manner in
which they have thrown back the
various attacks and then, counter
attacking have been able to recover
Oh lost ground and TO take prison
rrs and war materials as they moved
on
one reason for the intense inter
est in the present struggle is the be-
lief OF army experts here-Ameri-
can as weU as entente-that the
battle i'm which the Germans have
been held without appreCiable gain
ing of ground. or even thrown back
in their tracks. viii mean the
reaking Gown OF the German Of
fcnsive.
OncEsivc May Crumble.
OHesrs say that 10 may not bee
that this effort will mark that point.
Thev don't know whether Gen. Foch
has suinciont men available 10 make
fre sacrifices necessary TO gain that
point and at the same time retain
sufficient forces TO protect all other
parts OF his long line
But The day is certain 90 come
and the officers are hopeful that IL
NAV be i'm the present struggle
wien the German offensive viii
,.rumDlc TO bits on the defenses OF
tte entente. And that will mark the
trrrin. point I'm the war. these mill
tarv experts explain as the Ger
mans must inevitably lose morale
the mute they are forced 20 as
same ,us defensive
It il understood there are few
British many French and Ameri-
cars and several regiments of Italian
.roops engaged i'm the present bat
tie 10 is believed here that the pres
ent struggle soon viii spread 90 the
north. where the British and Bel
giau armies are holding the line.
1hoIcht Lines Poorly Held.
Tt Was pointed ont here today that
TIE rea! reason why The Germans
made .heir present effort where they
ffg undoubtedly was due 20 their be-
gef shat the lines there were not
strtrely held. And in this very con-
uection afHcers who have very close
Iv followed the situation declare
thar Gen Foch has out-suessed the
NuNELiIEfI lAa- la t''.'t'.Att tI''f ttH. ''t-H
nor the -lightest element OF surprise
in tie present assault. % was made
INST where the French gcneraGSsimo
svpectcd tcs.t it would uc made and
Es had his various UNITS properly
disposed To handle the attack when
.t came
should the Germans ue unable 70
-afn ground toward Paris they un-
.ogbtedly VIII renew their drive on
Tho channel ports. the army experts
here say. And. the l;Iush army Of
fccrs who are here and who are iu
every way familiar with the general
Mtuauon. explain thaJ this drive al
90 viii prove futile. rs widespread
"uibbiing operations the British
army has s,raightened out its line
-t an points and is ready 20 meet
any assault in force.
Optimism at White House
There was marked atmosphere
az optimism at the white house as
tns day wore ou The feeling That
he German Offensive had been
-heckod al it- vers inception was
everywhere apparent Prest wilson
had remained up unui after mid
uieht -cannius news dispatehe~
nom Lac 'front.'.