The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-07-17
GERMAN OFFICIAL CLAIMS 13,0O0 PRISONERS TAKEN Enemy Claims to Have Broken Into Allied Lines Between Aisne and
 Marne

OSl lllit v diy AO. V td i1Oii lon. )-The Germans claim tn, capture of 13,000 prisoners Il he official communication rom headquarters issued to lay. The army of General Vol Boehm, it is said, crossed tn Marne between Jaulgonne ant east of Dormans.
 s1n some sectors fighting activ- ity has revived, says the German official statement.
 "Enst of the Ayette nm enemy night advance wns repulsed. as was also n strong enemy attack east of Hebuterne. Between the Aisnc and the Marne and enst of Chateau Thierry there were lively artillery duels.
 ssIn minor enterprises and dur- ing mn advance across the Marne to the southwest of JaulSonne we broke into the enemy's lines and brought back some prisoners.
 "Xesterday to the southwest and east of Rheims we penetrated into part of the French positions
 "By their devastating effect, the artillery, mine throwers and gas throwers, together with our tanl<S and infantry flame throwers open ed the way into the enemy's posi- tf0ns. The army of General VOn Boehme has crossed the Marine be- tween JauIgonne and east of Dor mans.
 At daybreak ,pisneers trnnsport- cd storming troops across the river and thereby created the foundation for the success of the day. The infantry stormed the steep slopes on the southern bank of the Mnrne and, under their cover the con struction of bridges was carried out.
 sIn steady fighting we thrust through the stubbornIy defended wooded country of the first posi- tions and drove the enemy back to- wards his rear lines at Conde-La ChapeIle- Month odon.
 sN0rth of the Mnrne we also wrested from the French and Itnl- inns their first position between the Ancrc and the Mnrne.. In the evening we were fighting to the east of the Chatillon-Cuchery line.
 "The armies of Generals Won Mu- dra and Won Rinon attacked the enemy in Champagne from Prunay, east of Rheims, as far as Tnhure, md in an encounter with the en- emy, who was avoiding our attack, we captured the first French posi- tions.
 'sTo the south of Nauroy nnd Mo- ronyiIlicrs we pushed forward across the Cornillet-H KeilberE ridge of heights t0 the crater field of Inst years great battle as far as the Rheims road to the nOrthwest of Prosnes and into the wooded country south of Fich- telberg.
 gro the east of the suippes we wrested from the enemy the field of the Champagne battle between AUberive and southeast of Tahurc.
 .On our front of attack east of Rheims the enemy is holding his second positions to the north of Prosnes, Sounin and Perthes.
 'In spite of low clouds and n high wind our aerial fighting force was active. From . low altitude our aviatOrs, with bombs and ma chine guns, attacked in the battle on the ground. Yesterday they brought down over the battlefield 31 enemy airplnnes and four cap tive balloons.
 "The number of prisoners brought in up to the present amount to more than 13,OOO.c
 "On the Marne front the enemy has delivered violent counter att tncks,' says the German official communication issued this evening.
 "There were some local successes to the southwest of Rheims.
 gro the east of Rheims the situa. tiOn is unchanged.S