The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1918-07-23
RODERICk 0. MATHBSON, EDITOR
The Week In the War


speedily turned into a defensive and retreat.
One week ago the Germans launched a new
phase Of offensive Saturday and yesterday their
gains had been more than wiped out and they
were in retreat; Coming as this does close upon
the defeat of Austria in Northern Italy and in
Albania it has the appearance OF reaching Of the
turning point 1t is gratifying that in the recent
engagements the United States has played high
ly important part.
Last Monday the Germans launched an attack
along a front Of between sixty and seventy miles
extending generally in easterly and westerly
direction on either side of Rheims Even in its
first impact this assault achieved results that
could in any way compare with the early stages
Of the previous phases Of the offensive. Some
ground gained, but very little in comparison
to the weight of men that was thrown against the
French and American positions and the immense
losses that were sustained. Especially was this
so in the assaults on American positions. Our
bows gave slowly countered and came back, gave
way reluctantly and countered once more and yet
again and again. All along this lengthy battle
front the Germans either held achieved
only insignificant gains. Using between 100000
and 100000 men the German offensive dwindled
and waned until Wednesday it had become
l;tte than series OF local attacks. The drive
had been effectuay held
French and Americans sprung a surprise attack
along front of between twenty and twenty-five
miles on the Aisne- Marine front, extending from
Chateau Therry to the north Of Scissors Two
Of these sectors were American held, one from
Chateau Thierry north and the other south OF
SoiSSOnS. Between and on either side of these
the French held the line With the French there
were some detached American units, as was the
case to the south of the Marine where sporadic
fighting continued
The purpose of this counter attack to take
or cut the railroad leading from scissors tc
Chateau Thierry believed to be the main feeder
for the latter position and one of the chief means
for the transportation of supplies for the Marine
sector This belief was confirmed by the subse
quent results.
With dash and verve the Franco-Americar
forces swept the enemy off his feet and hurled hin
back Reserves were brought up but the efforts
to stem the advancing tide of Allies were futile
On and on it poured, the Americans leading in the
advance in that they cut the deepest and penetrat
ed the farthest. Throughout Thursday, Friday
and Saturday and into yesterday these advances
continued. The positions Of the foe to the south
of the Marine and at points to the north were made
untenable. The capture of the railroad had its in
tended effect. The foe fell back and retreated
Yesterday Chateau Thierry fell. To the south O
ments and they cut off so they must die Of
surrender. To the north of the Marine the foe was
also retreating for the attacks of Friday and Sat
urdav on the Aisne Marine front and on the Marine
Rheims front threatened a pinCer movement will
the working Of which the German command il
thoroughly familiar from much use by them
selves of these tactics. 1t may be that they will
be forced to evacuate triangle of terrain twenty
FIVE miles on each of two sides. That is the APP
pearance after a week of fighting.
In the offensive on either side Of Rheims, which
appeared to be turning movement on that terri
bly, beleaguered and battered city, the losses o
the foe were estimated to be 100000 and on tol
of these losses came those on the Aisne-Marn
front. On that front it was known definitely tina
the enemy had lost twenty thousand men as prs
OnerS and their losses in dead and wounded wer
Gultiples of these. Another hundred thousand i
4 conservative estimate of their casualty list which
would bring total losses for the week to more thar
ZOO,OOO and those figures do not include the prs
Oners taken by the British forces which mad
gains on the SOmme and captured many prisoners
In addition to the loss of man power the fo
has lost more than four hundred field guns anC
thousands of machine guns, besides munitions anC
other supplies
In Albania the French and Italians continued t
advance through the terrain abandoned by tn
Austrians in their northward flight while in Mace
donna the British attacked the Bulgars and mad
gains.
In northern Italy fighting was Of a sporadic ma
ture and results of no great importance followed
The outstanding feature is that General Fool
now finds himself with forces large enough t.
offer an offensive resistance and do so success
fully. This shows gain of strength in man powe
that is most gratifying, And this strengthening
of man power will continue. In this fighting th
Americans have had at least 100000 men in tn,
line. Each week will add its thousands and las
week our chief of staff, General Peyton c. Marcel