Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-07-15

OHAclal reports ToldLlvo 10 the gfAnQ
offensive begun, this. morning against
most ambitious stroke since March 81,
when the Germans launched their as
sault against the British lines in the
vicinity Of Arras to La Fere.
The front in the March FL Offensive
was reported to be. about ffty-fve
miles In length. The one over which
the Germans are attacking today is
approximately fifty miles from Cha
teau-Thierry on the west, to Mas
siges, In the Champagne, on the east.
Same Plan Followed.
The Germans followed their most
recent tactics of beginning the often
sive. There was q. brief artillery prep
aration of great violence and then
came the advance of assault troops. Z
There seems, however, to have been
a new feature in this attack. Great
naval guns had been brought up be-
hind the enemy lines and towns and
cities far behind the actual battle
area were placed under bombardment.
The violence Of this cannonade is evil
denced by the fact that the city of
Meux, 25 miles west Of Chateau
Thierry, was under fire Of great pro-
%jectiles during the night.
Similar to May Attack.
The apparent purpose of the Ger
mans attacking along the line from
Chateau-Thierry east along the Marine
over the rolling hills to Rheims and
thence eastward-to Massiges, was SIM
lar to hat in the great attack along
the Aisne late in May. They evident
ly hoped to find the allies less we'll
prepared in this sector than elsewhere.
In spite of the repulse Of the Germans
before Rheims early in June, it may
be that he. allied line eastward from
Chateau-Thierry had been more thin
ly held than that from Chateau-Thier-
ry north to the Aisne and thence
through the Picardy sector to Ypres.
German assaulting troops thus
resistance in the sectors east Of Cha
teau-Thierry and the Germans posi-
bly, hoped for gains which even would
compel an allied retirement from the
Verdun and st. Mihiel sectors.
Huns Hold North Bank.
The north bank of the Marine is
held by the Germans for a distance
of some 20 miles east from Chateau
Thierry. A successful attack in the
| Rheims area might force the allies
back on the Marine still further east
and give the Germans command of
the communication system by which
the French and American troops at
Verdun and st. Mihiel are supplied
with food and ammunition.
In this district Is the city of Chalons,
which is reputed to be an important
supply center. 1t is approximately is
miles back of the line where mighty
armies, are locked in a death-struggle
today.
Americans are engaged in the battle
at Chateau-Thierry n eastward
along the Marine for some distance.
Their positions extend northwest, of
Chateau-Thierry to the village of Tor
cy, on the Clignon river, and eastward
along the Marine to Jaulgonne, where
they have bee engaged in local fight
ing recently. General. Liggett has
about 100000 men, the first army
corps, in this sector. So far as known
no American troops r in the neigh
borhood of Rheims which seems to
be the center of the tremendous storm
loosed by the enemy at dawn today.
There have been Italian forces on the
line to the southwest Of Rheims, under
attack in the present drive.
Continue Advance in Albania.
Vienna, Sunday, July IA (via Lon
don).-Allied troops in Albania con-
Itinue to advance, says an official
statement from Austro-Hungarian
headquarters today. Increased ac-
tivity is noted on the Italian front.
The statement reads:s
Between Lake Garda and the
Adige the reciprocal artillery fire was
active. On the Ventian mountain
front activity has increased. This
morning Italian battalions fruitlessly
attacked southwest of Asiago and
north of Monte di Valbella. An en-
gagement on the western slopes of the
Brenta valley also ended in our favor,
"In Albania the enemy is gradually
pressing forward against our new line
Of resistance. In the. Devol valley a
French squadron has been repulsed.'