Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-07-16
HUNS LAST BLOW "
WHEN BEATEN NOW,
EXPERTS DECLARE
Regulars Rainbow Division and
u. S. Marines Were All in at De-
feat of Germans Yesterday.
WASHINGTON is EASIER


gave IA great sigh of relief when the night
cable messages came telling of the check to
the German drive There was more
anxiety over the enemy offensive ycster-
dav than at anv time since March u, whcr
IL looked for DAYS rs If they would break
through This time our people knew
their own sons were meeting the encmy's
onrush.
Those who have watched President
Wilson through other trials since the wal
broke say he was more exercised over the
first information that came from the
front. that the Americans were pushed
back at the bend IN the Marne, than he
has been since the war began Later in
the day. however. after he had gone over
the press reports with Secretary Baker.
he was smiling and seemed confident.
The latest news that the Americans
had driven the German back to the rail-
road south of the Marine and were holding
what they gained IN counter attack.
chcercd everybody
MAY RI LAST Me EFFORT
If We hit the Germans on the head IN
thus drive. SAID an army expert last
night. they will start back toward l'cr-
lin This viii I've their last great effort
to break through the Allied hnc
The news late Yesterday Indicates
that they are not going to succeed ~ their
dT vc for Paris. If that be the point they
are really aiming at
The reports arc too meagrC to reach
definite conclusion. hut from what VIC
navc the situation looks All right
There must have hecn three things IN
tic rllnd of the enemy
To 81 fo th" channel ports ~
t. tpnc, iIic. and Is to Pans
IL would seem from the start he would
undertake the third strike at Paris
Most people predicted that he would
drive for the channel ports. very few
thought that he would try for Paris
"Oh,r information IS hardly sufficient
10 ,ndlcate just what his purpose "a. but
IT bc is sincere in his drive for the capital
If France wc must wonder what he expects
tn gam if he cannot go All the way
NAY THY 10 FRIGHrEN rARls,
III We deliver great punch NJ Tins
tinc We can take care Of hun IN the
future II he fails now his last great
effort will be over
That IS the way Il looks 70 army
stratcrists
lie viii start down slope 10 defeat
Tho rcal object Of the present move
NAV 10 to t>onIard PARIS from distance
with view t. frightening the people into
peace parlrvS The German has 3
Stranga idca If the effect Of blood and
thunder
The American forces hold an important
part Of the Allied line against the German
attackers.
The front chosen nv the Germans for
the force of their drive came as a great
s,ITprise TO army officers here Nine out
of ten men Of army experience expected
the blow to be In the direction of the
Channel ports
The American forces confronting the
Germans it Is understood here, arc those
Of tho ID Division of the LIST Corps,
regulars. including tho 9th and sd
Infantry. supported by the 18th, 18th
and 18th Field Artillery and the 5th and
9th Marines. lighting under MAJOR Cen.
Omar Bundy. strung along the bend Of the
river at Chateau Tmerrv.
Added to this force there may hc some
of the First Division, possibly the 26th
National Guard troops from New England.
the AID tho Rainbow DIVISION and the
4lSt the Sunset.
ARE HOLDING EIGHT MILES.
The American troops held about clghs
miles beginning at NauX. north Of Chaf-
tcau-Thlerrv at the bend OF the river
They are but forty-tWo miles from Pari 5,
Secretary Baker said yesterday he
could not state which Of the America n
forces were In the fight yesterday, but
thought that the Second Division. was
among those employed
The War Department did not receive
any news from Gen Pcrshng during the
dav Secretary Baker relied upon the
press dispatches Tor has information
Yesterday afternoon between ) and
o clock President " IlSon. accompanied by
Secret Service men. went to the War
Department and talked Tor three-quarters
oi an hour with Mr. Baker He did not
go 10 confer on the new German drive, hut
he and Mr.. Baker talked over the press
Washington officials have been looking
for the German drive for two weeks They
have not been able TO hit upon a good
reason for It's DELAY 1t was stated
Yesterday that the use OF naval guns by
I ne enemy may have had something TO do
with the delay a. II required considerable
Ime TO get them IN position. The one
new feature OF the attack today, according
10 the information that came to Wash
lngton was the use OF the big naval guns
The American troops used yesterday
were the same that threw the Germans out
of Naux July They were then com
manded by Gen Bundy
Our people look TO sec tins drive slow
up and stop as previous drives have done.
SITUATION Is RELIEVED
If by any chance the Germans got 70
PARIS II would be a hard blow 10 the Allies
nut bv no means q decisive one. -Four
months ago there was great apprehension
in Washington that the Germans would
capture Paris, but now there Is no such
thought. The great American forces sent |
10 France have relieved the situation to |
great extent. and the actual capture Of !
PARIS would not mean victory for the en- |
smy.
On the OF her hand, II Is believed that If
C.ernany does NOT succeed ID going TO |
PARIS, If that be her objective now, She |
a1n have been gwen u mortal wound |
There is no doubt what will eventually /
happen IN tins war said wcli-inforIned /
army officer today, but the success Of the |
present German attack would prolUng il |
or years If we hold them back and /
counter TO good effect We will be at the |
beginning of the end