Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1918-06-20
FOE DRIVEN BACK
ACROSS THE MATT;
BIG DRIVE FAILS
French RepuIse Attacks and In
fIict Heavy Losses.
U. S. MEN REPULSE ATTACK
Germanys Losses for Seventeen Days
Are Estimated at 100000 Men,
Enemy Hoped to Destroy
Allies Before Americans.
Arrived in Force.

Paris, June 15.-M. Clemenceaus
organ, L'Homme Libre, expresses no
surprise at the slackening Of the bat
tie. The enemy, it declares, has en-
gagged about eight divisions since May
q, nearly half of which left 80 per
cent of their men on the battle-ground.
1t expresses the opinion that General
Ludendorff has a maximum Of 30 re-
serve divisions, Of which two-thirds
have already taken part in the strug-
gle.
fascinating a German division at
$4,000 the total number of men en-
gagged would be 100000 and the
losses 100000 men for II days.]
German Drive Is Failure.
With the French Army in France,
June 15.-Only small local actions
have occurred along the battlefront
since Thursday night, and it appears
scarcely possible that the Germans
will recommence serious work for the
present on the line Of MOntdidier-
Noyon.
Their offensive for the capture of
Compeigne, with the eventuality OF
making further progress toward Paris
from the base that they hoped to at
tain there, may be regarded as having
met a bloody check, costing them thou
sands of men belonging to their best
divisions.
There appears no doubt that the Ger
mans desired to make an imposing adj
vance toward the capital and at the
same time inflict losses on the French
and the British before the American
army was ready to take the field.
They assuredly are anxious in re-
gard to the rapidly growing army from
across the Atlantic ocean and are try
ing their utmost to use up the old
armies in front of them before fresh
transatlantic troops arrive in sufficient
ly strong force to turn the balance.
French Take Foes Guns.
Berlin, June 14.--Strong French
cOunterattacks between ROys and
Estrees st. Denis have been repulsed,
according to the official report from
general headquarters. The number of
prisoners taken by the Germans has
increased to more than $4,000 and the
guns to $50.
Some German guns, il is admitted.
have fallen into the hands of the
French.
The French are evacuating the
civilian population at Ccmpeigne. dis
patches from The front declare. but
this does not disturb Paris The Ger
mans are about seven miles away from
this strongly held town, but at that dis
lance they are easily in gun range
Consequently it has been held expedi-
emf to get the noncomhatants out.
With the American Army in France.
June 1.-THE excellence of the Amer
lean artillery fire was largely RESPONSE
bic for the capture by American ma
rines of approximately 400 prisoners in
the fighting which resulted in the
clearing out Of the BeIleau wood
northwest Of Chateau Thierry. The
Germans, who had been told to avoid
capture because the Americans would
torture them, started to run after thp
American machine gunners had made
the wood untenabl". but the artillery
barrage was so perfect that tn, Ger
mans were cut off from escape.
u. S. Troops Cross Marine.
With the American Forces on the
Marine. June 1S-The Germans began
using gas to Il greater extent along
this front than they have heretofore.
The Bots lie Belleau came in for its
share, but the American lines remain
intact.
An American patrol crossed the |
Marine at night, east of CHATEAU Thier-
~ and at once established contact with |
the Germans. After an exchange of |
shots the Americans recrOsSed the river |
safely in boats.
Examination of Germans captured |
N the Xivray fight disclosed the enemy |
planned the raid week in advance,
md that the 600 special troops were
'ehearsed.