The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1918-08-21
AMERICAN TROOPS
BREAK HUN LINES
GIGANTIC VICTORY WON BY
FRENCH AND AMERICAN
FORCES IN ALLIED DRIVE.
More Than Twenty Villages Captured,
Germans Driven Back on Front OF
20 Miles, Many Prisoners and
War Material Being Taken.

washington. - All AIneiiSu 40 ~
joicing at the good news that comes
from France, showing that our boys
cover there" have made good on the
most sanguine predictions made for
them. They have demonstrated that
as soldiers, as well as civilians, they
have no peers in the world.
A gigantic victory was won by the
American and French forces on July
10, more than twenty villages having
been recaptured, on front of twenty
eight miles, thousands Of prisoners and
much important war material being
taken.
It was SPLENDID victory. What
the full effect of the blow will be can
not be estimated until details Of the
action along the whole twenty-eight-
mile front from Chateau Thierry to
Scissors, from which the surprise at
tack was launched, are available.
1t was clear beyond mistake, how.
ever, that in the rush of the first day
of this answer of General FOch to the
German attack east and west Of
Rheims, the enemy had been placed in
position from which he may have
great difficulty in extricating himself.
Not only may the German effort west
of Rheims and south of the Marine be
wholly nulified, but all they nave &C.
complished since the battle of the
Aisne began months ago may be over
turned.
Just at the peep of day the Ameri-
cans went over the top, at the signal
Lets CO." Over the parapets leaped,
bayOnets fixed, thousands after thou
sands of fighting men, Americans and
French. Out across No Mans Land
they dashed. Twenty-Five miles, of
ront that had been thought asleep was
suddenly alive, ablaze, swarming with
picturesquely mingled khaki and hori-
zon blue. The Yanks and Poilus were
"going." Now-and not until now
the guns, tuned up. A myriad French
and American shells whistled over
head, bidding Godspeed to the storm
ing lads. AS the first shower of hot
metal fell upon the German support
and reserve positions, the foes first
lines were already taken.
On stormed the Yanks and Poilus-
one, three, five miles and on. When
night came they were still going,
sweeping everything before them. The
whole German front between scissors
and CHATEAU Thierry, on the Marine, Is
shaking. And the danger to the Ger
mans lies in the fact that this front
is their right flank. If it caves in, all
their forces must get back beyond the
Aisne, must get back in a hurry, In a
rout, or their enlightenment and capture
is inevitable.
The enemy early began to bring up
trong reinforcements. Fresh troops
have appeared at various points and
a heavy counter-attack will probably
have to be withstood.
scissors, the great Aisne rallhead
which fell to the Germans in their May
drive, is under bombardment by
French and American shells. French
and American troops are within q mile
of the city. Its fall may be announced
any moment.
The enemy was routed and for the
most part fled before the American ad.
vance; abandoning even light guns and
ammunition. Only here and there
along the line was strong resistance
offered, and at these points the Ger
mans were attacked with rifle and
bayonet, before which they retreateC
steadily.
The American troops, Including
those returning, bandaged, are In higl
spirits. The Americans have received
warm expressions of thanks from tn,
French commanders.
The British were not idle on the 1871
their line having also been consider
ably advanced south Of the Somme.
Take it all in all, it was a bad da,
for the Huns, and as result of tn,
days fighting, perhaps the followers O.
the Kaiser will begin to realize tina
America really is in the war, and Is t,
be reckOned with.