Norwich bulletin., 1918-07-19

Washington. July 1S.-The heart of the American nation is in Branch to- night. It marched and fought proudly with the boys who went over the top this morning and still were gallantly smashing their way ahead beside their French comrades late in the day.
 Effect Cannot Be Estimated. . It was a tale of splendid victory and daring that news reports and even the terse official statements told Hour by hour the extent of the victory grew. What the full effect of the blow will be cannot be estimated until details of the action along the whole 25 mile front from Chateau Thierry to Sois- sons from which the surprise attack was launched are available.
 Germans in Bad Position.
 It was clear beyond mistake, how ever, that in the rush of the first day of this answer of General Foch to the German attack east and west of Rheims, the enemy had been placed in a position from which he may have great difficulty in extricating himself. Not only may the German effort west of Rheims and south of the Marne be wholly nullifed, but all they have ac-. complished since the battle of the Aisne began months ago may be over turned.
 Glorious Page in History.
 There was little effort here today to l measure the scope of the Franco American stroke. Officers were too vii i tally interested in the swift develop ment of the attack as it was unfolded, | bulletin by bulletin, to devote much 1 time to cold calculations such as form | the basis for military predictions. It ,I | from General March to the junior staff | officers and the war department was | a place of smiles and hand grips as l the boys overseas wrote new and l glorious pages in American history.
 Thrilling Story of Dash.
 Secretary Baker had difficulty in holding himself cool unhurried ex- pression, as he dictated to the news | papermen late in the day a statement summarizing General Pershing's brief | reports. Supplemented with the news | despatcheS, the official account reveal ed, however, the full thrilling story oi the dash against the enemy delivered with such galiantry and as such 3 complete surprise that it swept over the first German lines apparently with out wavering and rushed on to ob- jectives detp in the territory the Ger
 
 During the day Secretary Baker General March and war department of ficials generally spent much time over the maps. They read every detail ot the accounts brought in over the press wires and time after time all other business halted while the swiftly changing battle front was traced out Until late in the night. officials were eagerly receiving every report that came in.
 Foch Has Sufficient Force.
 A most promising consideration ot the counters attack, officers believe aside from renewed proof of the fight ing qualities of the new American armies, is the fact that General F'ocf now has sufficient force to unliise major counter stroke. for the blow to- day is nothing less than that, however limited it's fixed objectives for toda! may have been. The supreme com mander now has shown clearly that {; j definite turning point has been reach ed where his resources in men an munitions are great enough for him t
 assume at least an aggressive defence If the present Franco -Americal : thrust should realize all the possibili s ties seen in it by observers abroad ant = force the Germans out of the whol
 Aisne- Marne salient, it seems highl, probable to officials here that Genera l Foch might feel warranted in expand I ing that success through offensive op erations on other fronts.
 $ British May Start Thrust.
 It was suggested tonight that
 thrust from the British front on ia : wider scale than anything attempte l. there since the great German assaul e began last March might develop as = companion piece to the Franco -Ameri
 can effort. In that case. it was said,
 would be clear that the tide of battl s had definitely turned and the Ger1na : drive of 1918. their greatest miiltar n effort of the war and the campaign O It which they have counted to achiey e victory by arms had been defeated.
 JAPAN IN AGREEMENT
 n WITH UNITED STATE