Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1918-07-18
FOCH IN COUNTER BLOW
Continued FROM rag" I

south of the Aisnc. the British have nj
tackled southeast Of lIlcrs Brctonneaux
on the Amlcns sector THIS assault
which was on front at more than an
mile advanced the British line, II IS
officially stated
Strenuous efforts are being made by
the Germans to enlarge their gains
astride the Marine and southwest Of
Rheims i'm an apparent eudcavor to
outlank the cathedral city on the south.
tombats Of the most violent character
continue there. Elsewhere the enemy
Is being held well in check rs he has
been since Monday.
The fourth hay Of The offensive finds
The Germans struggling desperately 20
develop successes along the river and
between the river and Rheims. Enemy
progress has been slow and al an enormous
cost in casualties Attack after attar X
is being hurled against The allied troop $
in these two important sectors. In
many places the enemy has been re-
pulsed completely while his gains have
been made in the face of strong re-
sistsnre.
Severe Fighting on Marine.
South Of the Marine. despite heavy
bombardnents and the use of fresh
troops. the Germans have made no great
gains The situation there Is rather
uncertain as villages and heights are
constantly changing hands in the dCE-
peratc hghting immediately south of
Dormans. where the enemy has made his
greatest penetration south Of the river
about three miles French and Amcri-
can troops have gained some ground
north of ~ .rnan. Astridc the river
toward Epcrnay. the Germans are near
MontroiSon. an advance Of about six
miles, but they have not been able To
spread their progress 10 the south.
HUNS GALS NEAR RHEIMS.
In the woods and valleys west Of the
Forest of the Mountain Of RhcifQs. the
great natural obstacle south Of the CITY.
the Germans have driven tho Italians
and French to within five miles Of the
Rheims pcrnay railroad, the only line
Of transportation INTO the city vet held
hy the Allies licavy fighting Is taking
place about pourcv and Nautcul-la-
FosSc which mark An average advance of
about FIVE miles SINCE Monday IL is
mon probable the Germans will try TO
get between the river and the forest of
the mountain Of Rheims than 20 storm
the mountain from the west Pourcy Is on
the western edge Of the forest
AMERICANS UNDER nor FiRt
Between Dormans and Chatcau-T
n, whcrr the Americans have their
largest forcc IN the linz, he fighting Is
sporadic Around Fossoy the Americans
improved their positions slightly but
further operations have been hampercd
by heavy rainfall The Germans MAIN
81 . J..
American lines American aviators. ne
cording 10 French observers brought
down thirteen German aIrplanes IN the
same region Tuesday The Americans
clam nine
West and southwest of Rheims the
enemy has failed TO gam IN further
attacks Just east Of the city his efforts
have been broken up by the French In
Champagne, General Gouraud's defence
still Is maintained and the Germans
have been unable 10 make progress.
BERLIN SILENT on OPERATIONS
Reporting on the fighting of Tuesday,
Berlin SAYS FIVE thousand additional
prisoners were captured bringing the
total TO $4,000 The German statement
on Wednesdays fighting has not been
received
Flanders. PlCardY and the front from
the Argonnc to Switzerland are quiet.
There has been only raiding and slight
artillery activity on the British sectors
The enemy shows no inclination to start
another blow until the present effort has
run its course.
In the Italian mountain region there
has been lively activity ut various points,
but no fighting Of moment French troops
in eastern Albania have taken another
village in their advance up the Devoli
valley and added to their captures OF
prisoners