Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-07-18
Deliver Counter Blow From
River Aisne to Region
i of Belleau. 4
HALT HUNS NEAR
NATEUL LA FOSSE
.fedays french Thrust Represents What
Apparently 10 Important Meve B,
General Foeh- Previous Franoo-Am.
srlean Operations Prepared Ground
For WsII-etudisd Plan q campaiau
by Commander Of Allied Forces.

Paris, July lathe French this
morning delivered an attack along ths4
line from tho river. Aisne a. far south
as the region Of Belleau. Q front oil
about twenty five miles and made pro-
gress at certain points OF between .
mile and half and two miles, the war
office announced today. The northern
point Of the front Of attack Is the town
OF F'ontenoy, nearly q milo north OF the
river Aisne.
Early In the movement prisoners
taken in the advance began coming in.
In the. fighting on the front Of the
German offensive the French last night
stopped the Germans in the face Of
violent attacks which the enemy
launched southwest Of Nateuil IA Tossa,
between the Marine and Rheims.
On the front beyond Rheims. east OF
the Vesle river. an attack by German
guard units was completely repulsed.
The situation on tho Marine and
Champagne fronts Is unchanged.
Strategic Move by Foeh.
This mornings attack represents
what apparently IL an important
strategic move by General Foch. the
allied commander-in-chief, to counter
the German blow further south along
the Marne and on the line to Rheims
The sector IN which tho attack was
launched includes a part Of the front
line extended east OF Belleau wood; and
on northwestward at least as far as
Torcy, probably some two or three
miles within the area mentioned.
The Franco-American stroke seemed
to have mode important initial progress
and II further pushed. as 1t seems bound
to be, the entire huge salient created
by the Germans in their previous drive
south Of the Aisne and enlarged in their
present offensive. will be seriously
endangered.
It Is along the line now under attack
that tho notable series OF operations
which Immediately preceded the start
Of the present German offensive. was
carried out by the French and Amer
leans. according to an apparently wen
conceived plan Of cooperation between
the two forces.
Marked Gains by French.
Marked gains were made by the
French day by day In the region south
Of scissors and further south along
the front edging the forest Of villers-
Cotterets.
The Americans, for their part, took
possession Of the entire Belleau woods.
captured the village Of Vaux, close to
Chateau Thierry. and advanced their
lines notably to positions where their
guns commanded the villages Of
Boureasches, Belleau and Torcy. along
the C1ignon river.
Allied Plans Well Laid.
1t was quite generally assumed at
the time that these attacks were merely
for defensive purposes. to fortify tho
lines against a possible renewal Of the
German assault in this direction
There were hints. however. that they
might be more important plants behind
the persistent aggressive Of the allies.
This front has been pointed to as the
logical one for an offensive stroke by
General Foch when he considered the
time opportune to take the aggressive.
as its success would pinch OF the en-
tire Marine salient, and II carried thru
rapidly would inevitably result in tina
capure OF large numbers Of the enemy
and quantities OF hig guns and material.