Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-07-16
AIR OF ELATION
IN WASHINGTON

washington. july i1.-AN ar II
,lation was apparent in government
'irclcs tonight as The Associated
Press dcspa tches from Franco I'M
olded the story of the valiant stand
,f American troops along the Marno
against the renewed German offens-
We
Official adviCes were slow and no
ornal report on the German effort
o drive tho Jaws af a great pincer
anout Rheims on Ga
szse front wa available at a late
SSsr The press reports made II,
T5lr. however. that the enemy had
:, only been stopped, but hurled
TX by American counter attacks.
, .~bng the Marne", where they hold
e left flank nf the great battlefront
J ale tho French army aided near
leims by Italian divisions. stood
Sst over the far greater extent of the
Che they defended against assaults
~ the enemf.'
I At the Wnte House the President
s4ad the account with interest that
lid not waHe At the war depart
mont, Secretary Baker. General
Iarch, Chief Of staff and other high
Ulcers received eagerly every line Of
ne Associated press's report which
vas relayed TO them as the wires
brought it IN and which was studied
With growing delight as it became
vldent that the enemy had met with
decided -heck in the first rush y.
lis greatest effort thus far,
The fact that credit for stopping
he heaviest parts Of the assault thus
ar reported belongs 10 mon of the
irst American army corps added %
he feeling Of citation officials had
difficulty in conceaiing.
After reading tonight's reports,
Secretary Baker made the following
statement 70 The Associated Press:
The alta X made by the Germans
& evidently TIC result OF careful
preparation. L, covers a wide front
nd is made III force. We are at the
md Of the first day Of a great battle.
The reports 50 far are encouraging
md seem to indicate both heavy
lighting ami effective resistance along
he entire front"
The prompt and hard driven count
n attacks Of the American troops at
Wo points :-1t a glow Of enthusiasm
through the whole war department
when the word first came.
Before the results we're known tie
act that the Counter-attack had been
aUnched was cheering. II showed that
he Americans were meeting their first
great test ike Nc5erans and that the
iernan attempt 20 overrun them had
allied to dIsOrganIZe or denorallze their
Ightng power
Then came word that AT Vaux not
MY had the enemy been stopped. but
hat his advancing infantry had coilided
With Americans. who first delused tne,r
opponents with machine gun fire. then
e2ped forward to disrupt completely
he blow a. this section that had been
y careful preparation for more than 80
avs.
Meanwhile nfagre reports from Lon
on said the Marine had been crossed
y the enemy at several points De-
ais were awaited with some apprehen-
ion. Hour by hour the story filtered
2. but the bulletin that told Of the huri-
lg back Of the foe in the Condos sector,
'here MS first rush had pushed back
ne americans out OF the salient they
ED opposite Jaulgonne. did not come
nui tonight. Its message set all doubts
! rest. again the enemy had been out
PATCHED BY the Americans. He was
riven back 70 the river rim and MANY
risohers. trapped probably b. the de-
Of the bridges behind them.
ere taken
Late tonight secy. Baker Gen. March
nd other officials we're at the DEPART