South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-07-17
BATTLE CRISIS
IS APPROACHING
Situation Regarded as Salts
factory by the American
Commanders.

WAStII<GTON. Jul, I-- THE
crisis OF the new German offensive
in France is still -1 se reached. lu
the opinion ~ E-h u 49, here.
While the inst rush J. ..- enc ut
apparently nus, r---l .-- -Ae-N
Monday ali al9ls t. na ieA
tal short of tl- p.y -. I'D. eutlt -
marked out for lh- i.s. day both
official and auo1c.a. reports from
the front Tuesday u.sn, shower
that bitter lighting was stIli in prog
ress WIKI wary inS results.
Advices from Gen. Pershing and
Cen. Bliss covering MoudayS opera
tons prompted a statement from
the war department Tuesday that
the situation was regarded as salts
factory .y the American command
ems 40 the end Of the first day Of the
INST great battle OF the war I'm which
American troops have been en-
-aged.
situation Encouraging
ON the comparatively limited part
of the battle front held by the
Americans between Chateau Thierry
and the Jaulgonne region. Tuesday
nights adviceS indicated that the
enemy had been ousted from a ma
jcrity of the points where his initial
drive had made Roadway across the
4 river. The situa tion appears most
/ encouraging here.
Farther east, however. where the
/ Germans appear 70 have occupied a
) considera BILE amount OF territory
south of the Marine, the enemy was
still ina force and the French. with
I American aid were gradually beat
/ ing him back toward the river.
American achievements were also
reported as arriving and getting into
/ the fighting line even farther cast
/ toward Rheims.
100000 Americans Involved.
I Probably in excess of 100000
/ American troops are involved i'm one
place or another as that would be
( the approximate strength of Mai.
/ Gen hunter Liggetts first army
/ corps, several divisions of which are
known TO be operating with the
/ French corps along the Marine sec
tor. Nothing had reached the war
department late tonight, however,
TO identify the troops who made the
brilliant counter attacks Monday at
Naux and in The Jaulgonne region,
which helped materially in stem
ming the German tide
Believe L. =. Troops With French.
Secy Baker said Tuesday he had
no reason TO believe that the first
corps was operating as a unit. the
indications being rather that its di-
visions were being employed in
French corps Similarly divisions
from other American corps are IN
der French corps commanders and
operating as units Of the French
corps while at other points Ameri-
can brigades or even regiments form
parts of French divisional or brigade
units.
This arrangement makes il impos-
sible 10 gauge accurately the extent
oi American participation.
High military officials did not ex-
pect Tuesday night TO be able 10
form definite conclusions as TO the
whole course of the great battle OF
the direction IN which it probably
i
two had passed.
The major actions i'm the battle
developed Tuesday Immediately 10
the east Of the original American
positions. There the enemy appar-
entity is firmly lodged across the
river and heavy pressure is being
brought 10y Franco American forces
10 eject him
German Position Prccarious.
The German position here appears
somewhat Drecarious. IL was agreed
on the basis Of unofficial as well a.
more meager official accounts, tina
unless they were able without grea
delay 10 extend their advance anC
widen the dent they have made il
. the French lines Gen. Foch Nigh
seize the opportunity 10 swing
> flank assault from the American DO