Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-07-16
T0day's War
Summary
fBy the Associated Prcss.)

East and west Of Rheims the Ger
mans are lighting with desperation
and every resource to bring quick sue
cess to their fifth offensive OF the pres
ent great battle year.. Almost every
where the allied troops are holding
Tremendously and the fighting one be-
hind the first line is yet intact along
1.-THE entire IS mile front.
Superb resistance by American.
French and Italian troops held the
Germans to minimum gains. Between
100000 and 100000 men were thrown
into the battle line by the German
command. Despite these huge numbers
and the use Of every facility Of Of
tense and destruction known to the
enemy, Berlin was able to report Of
ficially Monday night only that "to
the southwest and east of Rheims we
penetrated into parts Of the French
positions"
Large forces were concentrated to
be thrown across the Marine and
bridges were laid between Fossoy and
Doromans. American troops, fighting
with great dash, met this menace,
checked 1t and hurled 1t against the
river. Near Fossoy the enemy was
thrown back to the north bank by the
impetuous Americans who captured
between 1000 and 1900 prisoners. in
Guiding an entire brigade staff. The
bend in the river where the Germans
crossed now is dominated by American
cannon and machine guns
French and italian divisions engag-
ed the Germans between the Marine
and Rheims. On a front Of 20 miles
here the enemy advanced an average
depth Of two and one-half miles, his
greatest gain Of the day. Desperate
fighting continues along this line and
the Germans have been unable to gain
much additional ground.
East Of Rheims the Germans have
been smashed completely. The French
defense there stood resolutely and
after attack is being launched against
the French on this end of the battle
line but General Petain's men are IN
wavering in their defense.
Colossal as was the artillery prep
aration along the great fighting front,
it was met by an allied fire that was
fully as destructive. The German in
fantry marched against machine gun
fire that decimated whole regiments.
increasingly and destroyed two bridges
loaded with German troops.
Allied capitals feel that the German
effort has been baked in its incep-
ton. The allied troops are holding
their own. General Foch, who antici-
pated the place and date of the Of
fensive and made his plans accord
ingly, is reported well satisfied with
the result Of the first days fighting.
No important positions have been
gained and the Germans have suffered
great losses for the small advances
made. It is apparent the German COM
mand hoped to wipe out completely
the Rheims salient by July IL, but
Epernay, the objective of the first day,
still is safe from enemy troops.
AS yet, no frontal attack has been
made on Rheims and that battle-scar-
red city, long the objective of German
commandments, still holds out. The
enemy surrounded it on three sides
and hoped apparently to take it as a
result of great gains east and west of
the city. The German effort probably
will reach its full development within
q. few hours and until then, the real
objective is uncertain. A marked enc
my advance on the present attacking
front would give him territory and
points from which to make further
attempts to reach Paris. ~
On the remainder Of the front, in
Italy and in the Macedonian theater
the fighting activity has not been
great. British troops have made a
slight advance near Villers-Breton-
neux, south of the Somme. Lively To-
cal fighting has occurred on the Ital-
ian mountain front, but with no
change in the situation. In Albania
French detachments continue to press
back the Austrians in the Devoli val
ley. capturing a number OF prisoners.