South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-07-16

Appalling losses marked the first
day Of the new German drive. The
Germans had set out to break
through between Chateau Thierry
and the Argonne forest. but the
maximum of their gains was about
three miles and the major part Of
the terrain gained at frightful cost
was wrenched from them by smash
ing counter blows. delivered 10y the
French. Americans and Italians.
South of the Marne the Germans
were able to establish their line
through ST Agnan, La Chappeue,
Monthoden and the southern fringe
Of Bouquigny wood This is from
two to three miles south of the river.
Attack is i'm Vain.
To the north of ATarne in the dis
trict. between the river and Rheims
the Germans redoubled their efforts
TO extend the slight gain they had
scored ~ until late Monday after
neon. They hurled themselves in
,ain against the allied resistance.
A bitter struggle developed arounC
ChauHon sur Marne, where the eN-
hausted German hordes had TO with
stand stern counter assaults after
their direct attacks had failed.
East of Rheims. i'm the cham
pagne. where the German casualties
were frightfuny heavy two strong
German assaults were delivered be
tween Prunay and Souain. the infan-
try being supported 10y tanks. The
Teutons were thrown back except
a. one point where they succeeded
i'm penetrating a piece of wooded
ground near Prunay.
Unabie TO Renew Pressure.
over the greater part of the
Champagne front the Germans
fought themselves into such an ut
ter state Of WEAKNESS that they
could not renew their pressure.
Thirty-hve German divisions were
massed on the Marne river between
Chateau Thierry and Dormans. fac
ing the Americans Thirty of the
German divisions ON this side and
other parts of the wide battle front
were identified as parts of the re-
serve army of Crown Prince Nup-
precht of Bavaria. the German COM
mander ON the Flanders front.
This Indicated that the offensive
was expected TO be the supreme Ger
man effort and that the other parts
of the western front had been drain
ed Of all available men to give the
latest German thrust the utmost
momentum
Used RupprechrS Reserves.
tt had been known that Rupp-
recht had a large number of reserve
troops. but il was expected that they
would be used i'm another dash for
the channel ports. Evidently the
German high command elected 10
use them for another attempc TO
break through TO Paris.
Docun entarv evidence taken from
German prisoners shows that the
Germans planned 10 break through
to Eperray and Chalons In the first
dash of their new drive. Never have
expectations fallen more fiat
As the situation stood today The
nth German drive may he charac-
terized as another German failure
Although the Marne-Champa2ne
offensive was undertaken with
greater vigor than has marked any
of The preceding four drives on the
western front this year less ground
was gained on the first day than in
any OF the previous strokes
MAY be Blow TO Morale.
II events show thar I.udendorns
new attempt proves another iasco
such a. marked the recent ill-sta red
Austro- Hungarian blow i'm Itsly. 1t
will be hard blow 20 German and
Austro- Hungarian morale
The new offensive is NOT over The
German hiah command viii nor give
up 80 easily The Germans may
have large masses of RESERVES in THE
rear anu it ls known that thet are
supplied with enarmous masses ~
artillery Tt VIII 1e several DAYS be-
fore IL can he seen how the first
phase of the new grand operations IS
deeisiveiy ~ develop.