Mexico Missouri message., 1918-08-15

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a strong force Of English and Scots
troops down from the north, and they
quietly slipped around south Of the
Marne toward Reims. At the ap-
pointed time these seasoned fighters
hit the German lines southwest Of the
cathedral city a mighty blow. In the
succeeding days, acting as the east
| arm Of the pincers, they pushed for
ward into the salient from the Noun
tain Of Reims toward Ville-en-Tarde-
nois and Fismes. Their progress was
slower than that of the Franco-Amerl-
cans on the west, for the country in
which they were fighting was much
more difficult. East Of Reims the
French and italian held their own
and even made some advance, though
the plan did not call for d drive by
them.
When Foch's offensive was a week
old 1t appeared probable that Luden-
dorff would attempt to make at least
temporary stand on the half-circle
running from Scissors through the
outskirts Of Oulchy, below Fere-en-
Tardenols and across toward the
Mountain of Reims. Competent OBJ
servers believed his troops were too
dlsOrgani2ed to hold this line for long,
and that he would be forced to fall
back to the vesle river, which runs al
most due west from Reims, Joining
the Aisne near Scissors.
The main efforts of General Won
Boehm, the immediate commander of
the Germans In the salient, were d.
rected to keeping open the roads of
retreat. He was given the assistance
| not only of most of the crown princes
| reserves, but also of nine divisions
from the army of Crown Prince Ru-
precht Of Bavaria. Already he was
having great difficulty in feeding the
men he had there, and the additions
did little hut stiffen his resistance and
add to his commissary troubles.
At the time of writing the full scope
Of General Foch's plans is not re-
vealed. He has the Initiative, and may
elect to continue the offensive with
all his strength in the effort to drive
the Huns beyond the Aisne and as
much farther as they can be forced;
or he may find 1t prudent to hold them
at the Vesle and await the arrival Of
more Americans. 1t is a noteworthy
| fact that 20 per cent of the allied
troops engaged in the present battle
are French. A considerable portion
90 D,sk klcl, knv
ians. If so much can be done with so
comparatively small force Of Ameri-
| cans taking part. ask observers, what
VIII happen to the Huns when q mil
| Hon Americans are In the fighting line
and another million at least waiting
| their turn for action? And this state
of affairs win be reached by October,
1t is predicted.
Paris and London are loud in their
praise of the quality and behavior of
the Americans in the Aisne-Marne bat
tie, and the newspapers there relate
many instances of their bravery, cool
ness and determination. They are ad-
mittedly as fine troops as ever were
seen, and even the least experienced
of them have no idea of anything but
winning every fight they go into.
Their craftsmanship, both with the
rife and with larger weapons, is re-
markable; their doggedness is tenn
pered with an unquenchable humor,
and their stamina is such that at times
bodies of them fought for many hours
without food or drink, declining to
halt their advance TO let the commits
sary catch up with them. These
splendid troops. with their gallant and
competent officers, have done their full
part in stopping the German offensive
and converting 1t into an allied offen-
sive, and II they are now called on to
stop and await the arrival OF more of
their countrymen, America should rest
satisfied, patient and proud The
American casualty lists win be longer
and longer each day for a time. but
the bereaved ones may well take ex-
ample by the proud, unweeping grief
with which Colonel Roosevelt received
the news OF the death of his gallant
son. Quentin.
-M-
In Flanders the British carried Out
m important operation that resulte
in the capture OF Meteren. They have
been deyoting themselves TO preparing
for the new offensive which, according
to the logic OF the situation, Luden-
dorfr must undertake and which. ae-
cordIng to military experts, probably
viii be directed against some part Of
the line held by the British. Such an
Offensive would be largely to influence
public oplnion in GermRny and direct