The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-07-17
DRIVE WORSE
THAN HE'LL, SAY
KAISER'S MEN
Intercepted Message of En-
emy Bares Punishment
at Marne.
GAIN HOPES SHATTERED
Reserve Divisions Rushed Into
Action Long Before Time
to Avert Defeat.
GAIN HOPES SHATTERED
BY GERALD CAMPBELL.
Special Gable Despatch 10 The Sun from the
London Tires


Special Coole Despatch 10 THE Sun from the
London Times.
Copyright. 1918: oil rights reserred.
WITH THE FRENCH ARMY. July 16.-
The first sixteen hours Of the fifth Ger
man drive has been fought amid the
laundering OF guns that have had no
rest and which at night create with
their shell fire brightness that reminds
me Of the old days OF verdun and the
battle of the Somme. The net gain. far
below the expectations of the foe, has
been an advance of no more than two
miles. while captured documents show
that 1t was the enemy's plan to cover
from eight to nine miles IN the first
rush.
Against stubborn resistance that caused
the enemy heavy casualties the Germans
advanced across the Marne west OF Dor
mans. at first on light bridges made
Of boats slung together and later by
six larger pontoons about thirty feet
wide. The French h-American line hold
ing this sector blew up two Of the
bridges. but retired. always keeping up
a strong rear guard action.
Counter attacks were made by the
Americans west Of Fossoy. driving the
enemy In certain places to tho south
bank Of the river and in other places
across 1t.
Germans Reveal Fear.
A message taken from a carrier
pigeon that became confused and fell
into the hands Of the French-American
troops gave German vervion Of the
attack that carried them over the
Marne. The description was that it lis
worse than hell"
East of Fossoy and south of Dormans
the fighting has been particularly Sc
we're around the villages of Reuilly,
Courthiezy and Vassy. North of the
river from Challon-sur- -Marne to Bouilly
,Ls Italians fought very gamely. With
| the French Immediately on their right
on the western slopes Of Montague de
Reims they chung tenaciously to the
positions to which they retired. The
! line now held runs south from Bouilly
| to Marfaux and then west to Cuchery.
Bouilly and Marfaux are only seven
! miles southwest Of Rheims, so that the
! isthmus at the end OF which the town
| lies has been narrowed. In the CHAM
pagne region, where the ground Is less
| wooded than in the district west of the
Marne. the enemy now in action man.
aged to reach south Of the old Roman
road which runs to Argonne. except for
the town of Prunay.
The greatest depth OF advance was at
no point more than a couple Of miles.
80 that it was practically confined to
! zone outposts. 1t will be recalled that
| In this sector Is an elaborate defensive
system of old standing. while the de-
lenses west Of Rheims have only been
constructed since the beginning OF June.
Losses Are Terrific.
Taking the advance generally it falls
a long way short Of the eight or nine
miles which. from Information now In
our hands. 1t Is known the enemy meant
to cover In the first rush. The enemy's
losses are greater than was expected.
| One German division which ought not
| to have taken part in the fighting until
the second day had to be thrown In al
noon on the first day. All divisions
brought up in the emergency. including
two or more divisions used as guards
are good fighting units. The process OF
concentration appears to have been
completed only at the last moment. A
Bayarian division which arrived at
o'clock yesterday morning took part IN
the attack two hours later.
The work Of the French bombing
planes was particularly notable, al
though low banks of clouds In the early
morning made their work difficult The