The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-07-21
OLD GOTH AIDS
IN THWARTING
GERMAN DRIVE
March Reveals New Workers
Fought East of Rheims
Under GOuraud.
UPTON MEN AT LUNEvILLE
Seven L. s. Divisions, 100000
Strong, in Present Offensive
Negroes in Action.
sp,c,oi D.spo,ch TO TIE sux.

specfdf DespdtCh 70 lhb oUr
wAsHISoroN, July 2o.-Information
based on the latest dispatches from
Gen. Pershins and given out to-day by
the War Department revealed that in
the great battle now proceeding seven
complete American divisions are en-
cared on the whole line of battle east
and west OF Rheims and that partic-
Ipating in the allied counter offensive
are six divisions and n negro regiment
belonging to a seventh.
American forces now engaged on the
front of the offensive number about
10000 men, the largest number Of
American troops ever engaged In battle
In the country's history.
OF this number about 10000 are
combatant troops. The rest Is made
I'D Of the medical units and quarter
master and supply trains belonging to
each regiment and division. The num-
Ter of men In the battle is less than
one-quarter of the American troops in
France. Gen. March stating to-day that
the number there or on the way was
more than 100000.
old Goth In Action.
1t also was made known by Gen.
March that the old Sixty-nihth Of New
York has been used in thwarting the
German drive against Rheims and that
the Camp Upton draft men are holding
part Of the Luneville sector.
Increasing resistance by the Germans
Is being shown. Evidently the German
high command has had to bring up an
entirely unexpected number of reserves.
There were also reports to-day that the
Germans in an endeavor to stop the
allied offensive, which has already
placed their entire Marine salient in
the gravest danger. were preparing to
make a tank attack northwest Of Sois-
sons. There are indications that the
Allies were prepared for any such
eventuality. however.
All the reports received here to-day
went 20 show that the struggle was
rapidly developing into the greatest of
the war and that the stroke Of Gen.
Foch not only has entirely frustrated
the Ludendorr plan OF applying the
German nutcracker TO Rheims but had
placed at least half of the German divi-
sions engaged in the latest German Of
f.nsive in great peril. These are his
divisions In the Marine salient, where
communications may be cut at any
minute.
Much light on the tactics of both tho
Germans and the Allies was thrown to-
day by Gen. March. Chief Of Stan, in
his weekly interview with the CORE.
spondents.
The object Of the entire German
attack this time. said Gen. March.
was not a strategic object like an ad-
vance on Paris or the Channel ports
but was an attempt to squeeze Rheims
and force its surrender. But Rheims,
Gen March disclosed. had been we'll
organized for just such an attempt, even
70 the extent Of house to house defences,
and hence the Germans had failed.
Railroads linn ediate Objective.
Having brought the Germans to a
.tandstlll along the line east of Chateau
Thierry, Gen. March explained. the
Allies under Gen. Foch had struck
along the western side of the Marine
salient, the immediate objective Of the
counter offensive being the railroads
supplying the German forces along the
Marine One Of these railroads runs
south from Scissors to Chateau Thierry,
and this tho Allies have practically
reached and cut.
The other line runs northeast from
the Marine and is the only one through
which the Germans now apparently
have any chance Of escaping. Rather
than launch the allied offensive along
the Marine, which would have driven
the Germans back along their rail-
ROADS, zen. fOcH stTuCk lIoIi the slue
10 cut the German lines In the rear and
prevent their retreat
The Germans in their offensive west
o. Rheims on a front of twenty-three
miles advanced from four to five miles.
The French and Americans on a front
Of twenty-five miles in their counter Of
fensive had up to to-day reached an
extreme penetration Of ten miles. with
an average of seven miles, Gen. March
said
Engaged in the fighting. Gen. March
disclosed, were the First, Second. Third
End Fourth Divisions OF Regulars. COM
r'anded by Ma jor-Gens Billiard. Bundy,
Dickman and Cameron: the Twenty
sixth Division OF New England National
Guard troops. commanded by Major
Gen. Clarence Edwards. and the Tween
y-righth Division of Pennsylvania
troops. commanded by Major-Gen. Muir.
A negro regiment belonging to the
Nrety-third Division is with these
troops. These troops are in the allied
counter offensive from Scissors down
70 and around the Marine. The other
division engaged in the present battle
IS the Rainbow Division fthe Forty
secondly. This division. II was disclosed
had been in the battle east Of Rheims
RepuIsed Toe East of Rheims.
These American forces comprise troops
rom all three of the newly formed
american army corps. They are not
however, operating as corps them
tslves, but are under French corps COM
manderS
From Gen. March's statement to-day Il
was disclosed that the Rainbow Division.
which includes the old Sixty-ninth New
York. had been among the troops under
Gen. Gouraud against which the German
waves east OF Rheims beat without avail.
Il was also made known by Gen.
March for the first time that the Seven
ty-Seventh Division, the Camp Upton
men Of the drafted army. are holding the
Inc in the Inneville sector. The New
Workers. are acting as a complete divi-
son under their own commander.
They took their position In the trenches
In front OF Luneville almost Immediately
after landing In France. Illinois Ma
honal Guard troops are now In the Brit
ISL training sector. One unit OF this d.
Vision went over the top with tho Cana
dams in their successful assault on VIII
lers Brettonneaux last week
In his statement Gen. March said:
Last Monday. the 18th. the Germans
began an attack which covered a sixty
mile front one-half OF which covered
lne very hily ground between Chateau
Thierry and Rheims. the other half the
pam OF the Champagne between Rheims
ana the forest OF Argonne.
In the Champagne the position, which
vas held largely by French troops with
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