Evening star., 1918-12-31
FocH On July 49, Gen. Foch
ASSUMES assumed the defensive
OFFENSIVE. and began developing

ASSUMES aSSumeQ the 0e1eQS1Ve
OFFENSIVE. and began developing
the magnificent STRAIT
esy which enabled the allied armies
within three months time to shatter the
German armies and force the uncondi-
donal surrender of Germany and her al
right flank a vital blow and on the first
day the French and Americans fought
their way for six miles along the Aisne,
reaching the outskirts Of scissors. The
advance was SO rapid that cavalry was
thrown into action for the first time.
For two. weeks the great counter Often
sive continued. The Germans threw
100, 900 reserves into action south Of
scissors, but they were outfought and
outgeneraled by the French, British and
American forces and were threatened
with disaster as the allied forces mar
rowed the opening Of the pocket in which
the Germans were caught. The Ger
mans managed to extricate themselves
but were forced into disastrous retreat,
in which they were reported to have lost
220, 900 men. or more than one-quarter
Of their troops engaged; 90 On ,,aGsa July ~
and 500 guns captured by the Americans.
On July %, the Americans met the crack
divisions Of German guards and defeated
them in stubborn battle at Sergy. Sois-
sons fell to the French on August 2, and
by the following day the entire Soissons-
Rheims salient had been wiped out.
The indignation Of the British people
aroused by the U-boat outrages perpe-
trated by the Germans was intensified
early in July, when news was received
Of the sinking by a submarine OF the
hospital ship Llandovery Castle. carry
ing wounded men and nurses between
Canada and England. causing loss Of
o5S persons, including twelve nurses. The
United States continued to speed up Its
war-activities during July. and early in
cans overseas or on the way numbered
1,O19,115, On July 4 the American in
dependence day was celebrated general
ly in England, France and Italy: Presl.
dent Wilson, in an address at Mount
Vernon, declared that the nation would
not sheathe the sword until the peoples
Of the world were assured of liberty.
The United States on July z agreed
to allied action in Russia and prepa-
rations were begun for an allied mil
itary expedition into Siberia On the
same day Count Won Mirbach, German
ambassador to Russia, was slain at
Moscow. On July it was announced
that the Murman coast of Russia had
thrown off bolshevik rule and In
vited aid from the allies. During July
the first reports came from Russia
of the execution Of the former car
by a local soviet, and these reports
later were confirmed.
Gen. Foch opened the second phase
Of his counter offensive on August, T..
when a surprise attack was launched
on a twenty-mile front in Picardy, the
allies gaining seven miles at some
points and taking 1000 prisoners. The
following day Hafg's men gained thlr-
teen miles in Picardy and the next
day the French, attacking on
twenty-mi1e front. wiped out the
Montdidier salient. The Germans were
now in full retreat along wide front
and, although they poured in reserves
to check the allies, the. latter contin-
ued to advance. SO.
Then followed a series of sledge-
hammer blows on all portions of the
scheme of attack worked out. by the
master mind Of F'och. On August 81
Lassigny fell in an attack launched on
four sectors, and the former Somme
front was restored. British and
French armies. aided by American
Somme front and on August 80 the
Germans were hurled across the
Somme. The British took Bapaume
and were close to Peronne. Roye fell
to the French and dozens of small
towns were wrested from the invad-
ers. Farther north the British smash
ed the Hindenburg line and forced
the Germans to begin a retreat from
the Lys salient.
Throughout September the allies
continued to hammer the retreating
Germans and rapidly recovered all
the ground lost in all the German
offensives beginning on March 81.
On September 1 American troops were
reported operating for the first time
on Belgian soil, capturing Voorme-
zeele The French and British gained
steadily on a ninety-mile front Ham
and Chauny, on the road to the south
ern part of the Hindenburg line,' were
taken by the French September 6.
The British troops. on September 8.
entered the defense system they held
before he German drive began.
On September IL the first American
Army, under the direct command Of