Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-07-18
CRISIS OVER IS
CAPITALS VIEW
Washington Believes German
Plans Have Been Frus-
trated Fully.
GREAT RESERVE IS SHOWN
Baker and March Reluctant
to Talk in Absence Of Of
ficial Reports.
COUNTER BLOW IS POSSIBLE
Foch May Decide to Hit
Back. Possibility of At
tack Looked For.
GREAT RESERVE IS SHOWN
COUNTER BLOW is POSSIBLE

WASHINGTON July ~ While
official reports from Generals
pershing and Bliss werc too bolatcd
80 permit formal conclusions 10 ho
drawn today by military authorities
here as 10 the situation along the
front where the German offensive
was still beating against American.
French and Italian defenders Il was
clear they read press adyicos as in
dicatlng the crisis was past aud the
onemy's plans frustrated
Secretary Baker would not OK
press an opinion today aa TO what
was to he expected In France Cen
eral March. chief OF staff. deferred
n midweek conference with news
paper oorresp6ndcnts on tho ground
that his official advices would not
permit him TO 20 very FAR toward
making clear 10 his bearers Just
what h t''nnsplring at the front
Apparently both Generals Perish
Ing and Bliss are observing great
caution In formulating their reports
Among officers generally II was
obvious the battle was regarded as
f'.'i' NiAAll ilAll N'llf
Fighting Is Narrowed.
As press accounts and the brief
official communicates from Paris
and Berlin have 80 far disclosed the
situation the great thrust starting
over "A sweep OF more than sixty
miles. has heen narrowed down ~
three days fighting TO only one ac-
tive sector whsre the enemy still was
moving slugglshly 40 last accounts.
Sharp counter-assaults by Franco
American forces In this sector indi-
Gated. II was thought that still fur
theI restriction OF the active line
we/to be expected.
o%S,ficera agreeing with views eN-
AEBed both In France and In Lon
today that the great offensive
Nksseess, has ss,,n, asseneraied into a pure
MN twenty miles. This sector lies
u'Seen The point just east OF the
oIlFlhal American positlopa on ~,
Marine In the Jaulgonne sector ~
the wooded region west Of Rhe,rns
II Is possible the activity on the Ger.
man left In these woods wiuo res1Ii
in tlanking operation at Rheims
itself. but officers here were not in.
. clined 10 think 80. The center OF
interest was the 12-mile stretch on
the south bank OF the Marne which
the enemy holds and his thrust
down the river valley toward Eper.
nay.
Counter Strike Possible.
Aside from the possibility that
later adyices would show that the
German war machine had been got,
ten into motion again after having
been begged down by the fierce re-
slstance Of the French and Ameri.
can troops, officers looked with par.
ticuar attention at the very hope
ful prospect OF "a countcr-strok
which they believed might have i'm
portant results
II was still indicated by today's
reports that the Germans have
crossed the river, stand with both
Tanks exposed and with their com
municaNpn lines seriously mcpaced
Tho I2-mile stretch on the south
bank OF tho river tho enemy holds
was not regarded as wide enough
60 protect the flow uf supply and
ammunition trains and replacement
divisions TO the front Modern gun
ranges and the increasing effective,
moss OF aircraft. u was said. make
any salient dependent upon so mar.
row a base u dangerous one. u was
believed unless the Germans can
I widen out their positions they viii
| be compelled to fall back 90 the
river or face the possibility OF be
ing trapped as thCn Austrilns We're
on the Plave.