Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-07-16
AMERICANS MAKE
CAPITAL PROUD
OF BATTLE GRIT
Result of First Real Test in
Battle Justifies All
Hopes

Washington, July 16.-The Amer
leans in France yesterday had their
first real test of battle. And even
before the official reports arrived
last night telling of the valiant de-
Tense and the brilliant counterat-
tacks the men from the United
States had made against the assault
ing waves of field-gray Germans,
there was a confident feeling in
ashington that the day was going
Well.
Resumption of the offensive in the
west had been expected for ten days
or more, but it was awaited here
With remarkable calm, a vastly diff
terent feeling from the crucial days
last March, when it seemed the
Germans had been able to muster
an almost overwhelming weight
against the British while the Ameri-
cans were still not ready for their
part in the struggle.
1t seemed almost inevitable that
the American Army was to share
in a large part of the fighting in the
renewed offensive, and there was no
surprise in Washington when word
came that the Germans had begun
their attacks all the way from Cha
teau Thierry. past Rheims and into
the Champagne country north of
Chalons Their object undoubtedly
was a great turning movement on
Parls, but everywhere they struck
To-day 1t is apparent, even from the
meager reports available tonight,
that the Germans met with serious
repulses.
The serious character of the fight
ing was expected. 1t was known
here that never again would the Ger
mans be able to plunge through the
allied lines for the great gains they
made in March and April, for.
showing what to expect, the French,
the. British and the Americans were
prepared to withstand all the bitter
ness of the assault at any point from
the North Sea to the Swiss frontier.
The War Department waited anx-
ously all day for some direct word
from General Pershing, but at the
same time there was no surprise at
the delay in the receipt of a COM
lhunlque. 1t was realized the gem
eral and his staff were busy with the
aralrs of battle and that details of
the fighting would be received in
due time.
In the absence of detailed reports
early in the day the department was
reluctant to give out any word as to
the identity of the American forces
actually engaged. Secretary Baker
said 1t would not be possible to say
"hlch or the American units were
engaged until General Pershing
hlmseit gave an indication 1t was
known, of course, that the troops
engaged unquestionably belong TO
the First American Corps, com
manded by General Hunter Liggett
THESE troops were holding the lines
ABOUT Chateau Thierry, and at Jaul-
gonne, on the Marine, where the
Germans forced crossing, only to
pay for their temerity with tremen-
dous loss of life
Marines ON the Fighting Line
1t was taken for granted through
out the day that the burden of the
defense about Chateau Thierry and
at NauX, where the dispatches tell
OF the brilliant American counter
attacks breaking up the German
plans, was borne by the Marines. No
one doubted but that they would
give a good account of themselves
and there is no question but thai the
we'll ''
1t is probable that at least four
American divisions and possibly six
mad share in to-day's fighting. The
press dispatches tonight, telling of
the congratulations showered upon
the Americans by the French GEN
eral commanding the group of
of which they form a part.
sent thrill of pride and satisfaction
throughout the capital.
President Wilson was at the War
Department for long while in the
afternoon. He walked over from
the White House. accompanied only
hy three or four Secret Service men
and went direct to the office of Sec
retary Baker. The President had
other matters to discuss than the
offensive. but he and the Secretary
OF War talked it over as fully as
they could from the scattering dis
patches available at the time. and
both of them reflected the conf
dence which prevailed throughout
the city. The President was smiling
with evident satisfaction as he left
the department.