The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1918-08-01
The GREATEST BATTLE
OF THE WORLD WAR
Is Apparently Drawing to a
Close
GERMANS coUNTER-ATTACK
Americans Bearing Brunt of Ger
man Onslaught in the Soissons-
Rheims Salient, Yield Some
Ground.-Enemy Armies Num-
ber Nearly Million.


Der Nearly Million.
The greatest battle in the
worlds history, which, for sever
al weeks past, has been waged in
the vicinity of scissors and
Rheims in France, is apparently
drawing to close. 1t began on
July 18th with the German drive
on Paris and the channel ports BY
which the Germans advanced
some twelve or fifteen miles. A
week ago, the allied French, Brit
/ ish and American troops began a
brilliant counter drive, by which
the enemy was forced to yield all
territory gained by him and with
draw his army across the Marine.
During this operation, the allies
took over 10000 prisoners, cap
tured many cannon, and thous-
ands of machine guns and also
immense stores of ammunition
and provisions. The German army
under the crown prince was
forced into a perilous position be-
tween scissors and Rheims and
the river Marne, a great horse
shoe-shaped situation, with the
French, American and British
troops holding three sides of the
cul de sac
Meantime, immense reserves of
Bavarlan troops were sent to the
aid of the crown prince, who was
thereby enabled to check the al
lied advance and begin counter
drive Tuesday. He threw nearly
"a million men into the gigantic
battle, who have been vigorously
counter-attacking all around the
circular line that stretches from
scissors to the neighborhood of
Rheims. Even this formidable
force, however appears to have
made not more than a dent or two
in the allied front in it's latest eff
fort, while at various points prog
ress for the allies, slight but i'm
portant, is reported.
Regarding the strength of the
German forces, unofficial advice
state that there are II Teuton di-
visions engaged in this struggle,
so that, if all the units resisting
the allies north of the Marine have
been kept up to the standard,
there are 958,500 men trying to
hold the line until the situation is
relieved.
The German crown prince had
in the neighborhood of 100000
men between Rheims and Chateau
Thierry when the attack across
the Marine began on July Is. The
in the number of di-
visions in the battle would appear
to indicate that he had, since that
time, drawn heavily on other
army groups. 1t would also seem
that this action on his part reflects
the Importance of this battle in
the eyes of the German high COM
mand.
Through the German counter
blow Tuesday, the Americans
were driven back from Cierges,
southeast Of Fere-e EN- Tardennis,
while to the northwest Of Fere the
Americans have also been forced
out of Beugeneux, into which they
lad penetrated after passing
through Grand Rozoy.
Buzancy, situation on the west
'ide of the Crise river about S
niles south of scissors, has also
been the scene of heavy fighting
md the battle appears to have
been general along the line south
# that point, notably in Plessier
wood, near where the front turns
to the east.
On the other end of the battle
inc there has been sharp engage
Continued on last page, col. 81