Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-07-19
Germans Halted in Effort
To Pinch Off Rheims

WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
| THE CHAMPAGNE, July 1906 a.
! m THE fourth day of the battle finds
the Germans still halted in their at
! tempt to envelop Rheims.
Stubbornness of the American and
French resistance at the extremes of
the fighting front-east of Chateau
Thierry and east of Rhelms-safely
holds the allies TANKS.
The Americans not only are holding
their ground but are inficting the heav-
lest punishment on the enemy. In the
region of Mezy and Jaulgonne the
Boche dead are piled four and five
deep.
One American regimental commander
estimates five thousand dead in front
of his command alone.
The Germans have not renewed their
attempt to break the American resis-
tance on the Mezy front, and this re-
gion remains strangely void of infan-
try operations, but the most desperate
encounter continues TO the eastward in
the region of Condo wood, st. Agnan
and La Chapelle-Monthodon with the
Americans lighting elbow to elbow with
the French.
The battle lire south OF the Marine
sways back and forth as the opposing
armies continue in their grapple of
death. The latest definite information
showed that the Marine line involving
the Americans extends from Mezy to
st. Agnan to La Chapelle- Monthodon to
Combllzy to LIE Mesnll-Huttier, thence
northeastward to the river A gain of
one kilometer C621 mile) at lie Mesnil-
Huttier represents the total progress
made by the enemy in two days of ter
rlhc hghting. Attacks and counter at
In
succession and are accompanied by un-
precedented artillery fire.
tThis shows the Americans ape hold
ing All unbroken front of more than
twenty miles south of the Marine From
Chateau Thierry eastward to Mezy, five
miles east and Forth of Chateau Thier-
~, the Germans have been pushed back
across the river and have not attempted
to recross. From Mezy southeastward
to st. Agnan, a distance of six miles.
the Americans apparently are opposing
the Boches alone. From there eastward
and northeastward they are brigaded
with the French. La Chapelle- Hutticr
Is about four miles farther to the
northeast and about two miles south
of the Marne).
The Americans ability at counter at
lacking has won the highest praise from
the French officers. American bravery
and initiative and French experience and
gallantry, coupled with the most excel
lent artillery support, both by French
and American guns, is what has held UP
the Boches.
Along the Montmirail road, which the
enemy expected to hold, old men and
women were peacefully working in the
gardens. The stoppage of the Germans
by the Americans, east of Chateau
Thierry, upset the enemy program Of
operations toward Montmirail.
The attack today was centering
against the French on the American
right, in an apparent effort to reach
Espernay.
As an instance Of the German losses,
prisoners said the American artillery
wiped out one entire regiment before
it was able to cross the Marine. OF a
group Of six boats, each holding TWEEN
ty men, five were destroyed. The IA
nous Sixth grenadier regiment was ut
terly annihilated. every man being kill
ed or captured. Three German divisions
$4,000 men) were so demoralized that
they have not appeared in the battle
since the first day.
Extraordinary weather has marked the
battle daily. Searching sunshine has
been succeeded by cloudiness and rain
almost every hour, with monotonous
regularity.
The latest informa ton shows that
forty-five German divisions 100000
mem are being used on the entire front
American aviators have brought down
another plane. raising their bag to