Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1918-08-07
Gains Retained as Foe Seeks to
Break Grip.
BIG GUNS IN FIERCE DUEL
Prussian Guard No Match for Yanks
in Open Fighting-kaisers Crack
Division lie Decmated in At
tack on Americans.

eral Won MackenSen, in replying TO the
German general staff'S request as to
how many divisions from Russia and
Roumania it would be possible to send
to the western front, said:
'In view of the excited conditions
among ROumanians, it would not be
possible, without extreme danger, to
send a single unit stationed in Rou-
mania"
The. entire kingdom has been pro-
claimed in a state of siege. Officers
have been stationed at the doors of par
lament. More tkan 100000 are out of
work.
Paris, Aug Following fearfully
costly cOunter-attackS against the al
lies at many points on the scissors
Reims front, in frantic effort TO
loosen the grip of General FOch's
forces, the Germans, so far as infantry
fighting is concerned, were quiescent
most of the day.
The. French, British and American
troops, after forging ahead for several
days, likewise made no great efforts to
advance, according to the war office
statement.
Heavy Guns in Duel.
Meantime both sides, having got for
ward their heavy guns, are INDUCING
in an artillery duel that hardly before
has been equaled.
The American troops seem now to
H., Of
their remarkable advance, in which
they sustained terrific but vain shocks
from the flower of the German EN-
perOr's army, these overseas men are
improving their lines.
Beaten Near Outchy.
Early in the day the German high
command again launched powerful
countering assaults on the western
part of the .SOissonS-Reims battle
front. East of Oulchy lie Chateau the
enemy four times swept forward in an
effort to break the pressure which is
pounding him back toward the Vesle.
AS many times the burst of French
fire sent the oncoming waves back re-
coiling, after which the Germans, hav-
ing suffered heavily to no advantage,
did not make another attempt.
Further to the east, and northeast
of Fere- en-Tardenois, the valorOus
American troops faced and shattered
similar blows.
2sr,-~- Infantry Get Rest.
In the direction of Reims there has
been little infantry fighting in the last
"a hours, the combat here being con-
fined to artillery work.
While all eyes are turned on the
main battle panorama, both sides are
indulging in numerous small strokes
along various parts of the long line of
struggle, from the coast to Switzer-
land, in an effort to take prisoners.
With the great concentration of men
in the scissors Reims area, there nat
urally have been adjustments and
shifts in other parts of the line and it
is for the purpose of determining what
these troop transfers have been that
prisoners are sought in raids.
Through Deadly Barrage.
With the American Army on the
Aisne- Marine Front, July 31.-Through
a barrage as deadly as any the Ger
mans have laid down on any sector
for months, the American soldiers,
comprising men from the middle West
and Eastern states, pushed their line
forward little more end now it forms
the apex of the long allied front.
Their progress was considerable,
nearly two miles, but II Is regarded as
q brilliant operation IN view of the
determined countering by the Ger
mans.
Fight Million Huns.
Paris, July 31.-On the Aisne-Ourcq
battlefield American and French troops
are engaged with nearly a million Ger
mans in the fiercest close-quarter fight
ing since Foch's counter-drive began,
the most savage combat in which
Americans have been engaged in this
war.
Along each side of the pocket the
Germans are making determined
stand. On their whole right flank they
have been launching terrific eounter-at-
.taekS.
at few isolated points the line OF
hattie shifted somewhat in favor of
the Germans, but on the whole their
counter-thrusts have failed to dis
lodge the French and Americans.
Americans Hold Heights.
With the American Armies in
France, July 31.-Fonowing bitter
fighting, American troops are holding
the heights beyond Seringes and Sergy
and have advanced their line slightly
at some points.
Prisoners taken during the fighting
stated the Fourth Guards division of
the German army, which was finally
driven put of Sergy by the Americans
after nine attacks and counter-attacks.
was decimated in that series of bat
l.