The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-07-17
SAYS CRISIS IS NEAR
Secretary Baker States
Next Few Hours Will
Tell Result.
NO OVEROPTIMlSM
Cautions Public Against
Raising Hopes Too
High-March to
Report.

Washington. July f6.-The next
twelve hours--or between midnight
tonight and noon tomorrow--wtil
witness the crisis of this latest of Ger
man efforts 10 break through on the
western front.
This is the view OF the secretary of
war. AS impaired by him this after
noon at the cabinet meeting.
Developments during this fatefui
period, he subsequently declared to
newspaper correspondents. will. In the
opinion OF his military advisers. prob
nbIv determine whether the enemy
purposc has been defeated. Secretary
Baker urged caution against oyeroptt-
mism and advised tho newspaper men
not to lift too high the public hope
until the later reports from the front
have arrived.
He said:
ut will require the reports Of to-
night and up to noon tomorrow to jus
tify statement rs TO whether the re-
suits so far have been deterninative.
That is to say. they will probably en-
able us 10 tell whether the first thrust
of the enemy has or has not succeed
ed. and likewise whether his real OBJ
of Yesterday and today.
"Tt IL a matter OF discussion wheth-
or this present effort IL the great Of
fensive which the German general
staff had I'm mind. In order that the
public may know as soon as possible
the answers to these great questions.
have asked General March to make
n statement tomorrow afternoon on
the basis of reports received M TO
! that time. and twice every week there
after until the present drive comes to
an end.
While there has been some pene-
traiion here and there along the line.
and though the enemy has had some
partial success. we nevertheless be-
iieve that the whole situation may be
regarded as very satisfactory"
Speaking OF the showing of the
American troops thus far in what he
described as the greatest battle In
which they have been engaged" the
secretary continued:
Spirit and Talor.
The American troops have given
proof Of their spirit and valor In their
previous contact with the enemy. no
tahly at Cantigny and Seicheprey. The
conduct of our troops in the present
occasion might be characterized as one
vi dliNLI passed. NdtpT.
The secretary indicated that while
many OF the American forces engaged
I'm the present action at various points
along the line were brigaded with the
| French they were under command Of
their own captains. colonies and hriga
dier-generals, The words of praise
they received. he intimated. came from
their immediate corps commanders
II was wonderful day in Wash.
ington for the wonderful news that
came bounding over the wire. Never
did II seem, had the sun shone sc
brightly. and the American flags or
the great buildings flashed gayly IN
| the dazzling light. At the White
| House the president, disregarding ut.
terly the prescribed daily exercise or
| the golf links. read closely and eager.
| ly the press and official cables that
were sent to him. That the, officia
| dispatches closely paralleled the press
| news was indicated by the following
statement issued from the war depart
] ment about noon:
| dispatches received from Genera
| Pershing and General Bliss confirm
| the press accounts Of yesterday.
| fighting. American troops west o.
| Surmelien counter attacked captured
| prisoners, established and are holdinf
| their advanced positions. Germany
| harrage was met by counter barra sc
which in many places prevented the
advance of their infantry.
| Full reports covering the entir.
front are. OF course, not yet available
The general situation this morning il
regarded as satisfa Glory
THE first day in such battle is, q
course. merely general and advance
guard action. The great pressure O
Iof reserves and concentrated rnasse
Is still to he looked for"
Just before the cabinet met. Mato
Mccain, custodian OF the war maps
in the cabinet room hurried to TIL,
White House with the latest informa
ton the war department had received
and. with these before him. CAREFUL,
marked out on the mounted charts
with pins and colored threads tn,
changes in the line east and west o
Rheims 1t was over these maps tina
the cabinet pored. grouped abou
the president. whose intimate knowl
I edge ef the strategtes Of the war gam,
Continued on Second pnge