The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-07-19
End of Defensive Policy for
Allies Has Come.
Is Opinion in Official Circles at
the Capital.
YANKS GET BAPTISM OF FIRE
Took More in One Day Than
Germans i'm Three.
Is Americas First Great Vic
tory on European Soil.

Washington, July 19.-News of re-
sumption of the American-F'rench
drive on the Marne-Aisne line sent
another thrill thru the nation today.
over night dispatches to the war
department indicate that the allies are
seriously inenacing the German right
flank, which bends southward from
the Aisne to Chateau Thierry. Pos
sibility of forcing the enemy to with
draw from this salient and fall back
from the Marne or endanger thou
sands of his troops, is seen by military
experts here.
Officials were at their desks early
seeking the latest news of the often
sive.
On every hand the buoyant effect
of the drive is shown. There is
marked enthusiasm that at last there
is evidence of unusual offensive action
on the part of the allies.
American military men have been
long chatting at letting the enemy do
all the offensive activity. More and
more as the Americans get into the
fray, the tide will turn, they say, to
greater activity by the allies-and the
Germans will see whether or not the
Americans are merely cannon fod-
der"
Smelling of Scissors by French and
American big guns gave hopes that the
city soon would fall. With this would
come swapping of German railroads
feeding the Rheims sector where the
Teuton is pressing hard to encircie the
city.
That the Americans and French
were able to pick up the drive after a
| rights rest, indicated to officiSls that
there is perfect organization in the al
| lied advance.
! Washington. July 19.-The Amer
lean nation today came to realiza-
ton that its army. in cooperation
! with the gallant soldiers of France,
had won its first great victory on Eur
ropean soil. Surprised and scarcelv
able to grasp the extent OF the offen-
! { Ie operations between the Aisne a. d
the Marine as the fragmentary details
came in during the day yesterday, .he
American people today saw that
American soldiers, many of whom
were in civilian life twelve months
ago. had received their first baptism
of fire and in six hours had won more
ground. taken more prisoners and
captured Lore war supplies from the
enemy than did the Germans IN tree
! days of a carefully prepared offensive
along the Marine early in the week
! Officials Share Feeling of Public.
While reluctant to give official ax-
preston to their opinions until fuller
details of yesterdays counter stroke
and the full extent of the Franco
American victory are received ii was
evident at the war department today
/ that high officials inWardly shared
! the feeling of the public.
End of Defensive Policy.
! The belief was expressed widely in
offiial circles that the tables had been
definitely turned. that yesterdays sue
cesseS between Chateau Thierry and
Soissons, the first allied offensive of
any consequence of the year. mark the
end of the allied defensive policy and
that the point has been reached in the
! accumulation of man-power and
j munitions in France where General
! Foch is enabled to assume his favorite
role as an offensive leader
I Hun Reserves Will Have Hard Task
! Masses of fresh troops from beyond
: the Aisne would undoubtedly be
+ brought up by the Germans today in
/ an effort to stop the onrush which has
carried the French and Americans be-
yond their objectives with the off,
cially reported capture of twenty
towns and many prisoners. Knowing
the spirit of the American troops and
that yesterdays successes will only
+ render them more daring and cause
them to fight more fiercely, officials
were confident that the German re-
serves would have hard task in stop
ping the counter stroke and a much
(Continued on Page TWol