Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-07-16
CONTINUE DRIVE
) Z WITH GREATER FURY
Battle Continues With Redobed Violence South Of Man and in Region
Of Chaion But Offensive Apparently Held Up at All Points
Except For One Sector South Of Marne There is
No Change in Situation Americans and
French Take Many Prisoners.

[By the Associated Press.]
While the German forces continue their onslaught in
the big offensive begun yesterday they have failed to gain
any marked advantage.
ltWas evident from reports available early this after
that the offensive could be characterized failure
so far with the exception of minor local gains at scattered
points.
American forces have thrown the Huns back on the
of the Me defended by the Yanks and have taken
two townscaptured yesterday by the Germans.
Almost everywhere the allied troops are holding them
tenacionsy and the FIGHTING behind the first line is
yet intact along the entire sixty-five mile front.
Superb resistance by American, French and Italian
troops held the Germans to minimum gains Between
100000 and 800 900 thrown into the battle line by
+ the German command.
Despite these huge numbers and the Of every fac
ty of oense and destruction known to the enemy Berlin
able to report officially Monday night only that TO the
southwest and east of Rheims penetrated parts OF the
French positions"
Large forces were concentrated in the zone across
the Mare and bridges were laid between Fossoy and Dor
MANS American troops fighting with great dash, met
this menace checked it. and hurled it against the river
Near Fossoy the enemy thrown back TO the north
1000 and 15O0 prisoners including entire brigade
staff The bend in the river where the Germans crossed
now is dominated by American cannon and machine guns
French and Italian divisions engaged the Germans be-
tween the Marine and Rheims On front OF twenty miles
here the enemy advanced two and one,half miles, his
greatest gain Of the day. Desperate fighting continues
along this line and the Germans have been unable to gain
much additional ground
East of Rheims the Germans have been smashed COM
pletely The French Cnefe SCOOQ TesOuCey
stopped the his tracks Attack after attack is being
launched against the French this end ofe battle ne
but General Petains unWaverng in their defense
Allied capitals feel that the German efforts have been
baked in their inception The allied troops holding
their
General Foch who anticipated the place and date Of
the offensive and made his plans accordingly is reported
well satisfied with the result Of the first days fighting
No important position has been gained, and the Ger
mans have suffered great losses for the small advances
made
It is apparent the German command hoped to wipe
out completely the Rheims salient by July ~ but Epernay
the objective of the first day. still is safe from enemy
troops.
AS yet no frontal attack has been made on Rheims
and that city, long the objective OF German
bombardments still holds out The enemy surrounded it
on three sides and hoped apparently to take as result
of great gains east and west of the city The German
effort probably will reach its full development within
few hours and until then the real objective is uncertain
A marked enemy advance the present attacking
front would give him territory and points from which to
make further attempts to reach Paris
On the remainder Of the western 'front.' in Italy and IN
the Macedonian heater the fighting activities have not
been great British troops have made slight advance
near Vllers- Bretonneux, south of the Sornme.
Lively local fighting has occurred on the Italian
mountain 'front.' but with change in the situation In
Albania French detachments continue to press back the
Austrians in the Devol valley, capturing number OF
prisoners. i#s@s