South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-07-25
SECOND WEEK
FINDS ALLIES
STILL GAINING
Germans Sacrifice Great Num-
berS of Flight to Death"
Troops to Stem 0nruSh of
Yankees and French.

The second week OF the Franco
American counter offensive on the
Aisne- Marne front opened today
with the allies pursuing their steady
advance. meanwhile overcoming
ever-stiffening rear cuard resistance
by German reserves. The Germans
have been sacrificing great numbers
OF "fght 70 the death troops" in a
futile effort 10 stem the onrush OF
the Americans and French.
During the past a hours the most
violent nghtins has centered along
the 16 mile front from the Ourcq
river to the sector OF Jaulgonne, on
the Marne.
Allies Continue Progress.
on the left and center OF this re-
stricted lighting zone the French
and Americans continued their
progress. capturing nearly half a
dozen villages and fighting sheir way
into the great Ris forest ON the
right the Germans delivered a series
OF powerful counter thrusts which
save them some temporary advan-
tages. They occupied the little battle
wrecked village OF Chassins. on the
north bank OF the river. and pene-
trated q small wood north OF Ire
Ioup. but were quickly thrown back
to their old positions.
Between the Ourcq river and the
eastern fringe Of the Bois de Fere
The Americans and French gained
from IL 10 nearly three miles.
Fight I'm Moon Light
American forces advancing astride
The Chateau Thierrv- Fere en Tard-
ennois road pressed forward last
night under a brilliant harvest moon
that gave the battlefield midday
brightness. But so rapidly did the
Germans retreat that the Americans
lost contact and had difficulty in
locating the enemy
French and American troops are
carrying out conVergips move
ment against the German supply
base at Fere on TardennoiS. This
town. which derives its importance
from the strategic roads that pass
through it, has been under heavy
she'll fire and it is likely that the
oC their war materials away from
Farther east tbetween the Marne
ard Eheims1 the Germans have
been making desperate efforts 10 re-
tain their ground on the northern
bank OF the river However. il IS
pointed out by European war eN-
pprts that. If the enemy thinks OF
abandoning the idea OF Withdrawing
"a the line OF the Nesle and Aisne
rivers. his efforts 20 hold on would
cost him higher than the loss OF
terrain and might lead 90 verit-
able catastrophe
Threaten Railway.
on the eastern side Of the salient
the allies British. French and
ftaHausl are already north OF the
Nrdre threatening the Rheims
Et-nes railway which runs slonc
the south hank or the Nesle.
The base ot the German salient
g now less than - miles in width
and this line is being constant,
shortened Every mite that the allie,
make between Rheims and Soissons
lessons the Germans chances Ji
~vfthdra vinE their armies intact.
The German press has already
taken alarm, a. the situation The
Trankfurter Zeitun- declares plain
lv that Gen. Foch'S program ha'
been successful and that the Ger
man offensive has been stopped.
There is SIM room for belief tha
the Germans NAV make another
great EFFORT before the summer d
over. 20 Is too early. however, g
saw where IL viii fall Many thini
it viii come somewhere oetWeel
Noutdidier tthe southern end OF th'
picardv front and the eastern en'
Of the Champagne dsstrict1.
The gravity with which the kaiSe
and his military advisors regard th
situation is shown by the fact INA
the kaiser has called grand coun
I'll OF war All OF the German
Sovereigus and the army heads val
be present.