Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-07-16
VALOR OF TROOPS
CAUSES ELAT|ON
Washington Happy Over Splen-
did Showing of Americans
on Marne.
HIT HARD AND PROMPTLY
First Army Corps Gloriously
Manhandles Advancing Huns,
Hating Drive.
HIT HARD AND PROMPTLY
~ Assnciatnd Dec.

WASHINGTON. July l5.-An air Of
elation was apparent in government
circles tonight as Associated Press
dispatches from France unfoldcd tho
story Of the valiant stand Of Ameni-
can troops along the Marne. where
they held the left flank of tho great
battle front. while the French army.
aided near Rheims by Italian divisions.
stood fast over the far greater cx-
tent Of tho line the: defended agains,
fierce assaults by tho enemy.
Official adviccs were SLOW, and no
formal report on the German cfor.
to drive the jaws OF 2 great pinccr
movement about Rheims on sixty
nvc-mile front was available at a late
hour. Press reports made it clear.
however. that the enemy had not only
been stopped. but hurled back by
American counterattacks along the
Marnc.
At the White House. the President
read the account with interest tina:
did not wanc. At the War Depart
mcnt. Secretary Baker. General March.
chief of staff. and other high officers
1T the department, received eagerly the
across the country in press bulletins
from the battle front. Every line OF
the Associated Press reports which
vas promptly relaycd TO thcm as the
wires brought II In. was siJd:;d with
growing delight as il became evident
that tho enemy had met with decided
check in the first rush IF his greatest
effort thus far.
III
HALTED TIE, EMERY
The fact that credit for stopping the
heaviest parts of the assault thus far
reported belongs to men CT the First
American Army Corps add I'd 20 the
feeling of elation officials hal difficulty
in Co3ccaling.
The prompt and hard driven coun-
terattacks ot the American troops ut
two points sent glow Of enthusiasm
through the whole War Department
when the word first came. Before tho
results we're known. the fact that the
counterattack had been launched WAS
cheering. II showed the Americans
we're meeting THAR first great test
like veteran. and that tho German at
tempt to ovcrrun them had failed TO
disorganize or demoralize their night
Ing power.
Then came word that ~ NauH. net
only had the enemy been stopped. but
MS advancing Infantry had collidca
with Americans. who first delused
their opponents with machine gun rre.
then Icaped forward to disrupt com
pletely the blow At this section that
had been in careful PREPARATION for
more than thirty days.
GLORIOUS NEWS or
SUCCESSFUL COuNTERATTACN
Meanwhile, mcager reports from Lon
don said the Marne had been crossed
by the enemy al several points. DC
tails were awaited with some appre-
hcnsion. Hour by hour the stoey NJ
tered in. but the bulletin that told OF
the hurting back OF the foe in the Condo
sector where his first rush had pushed
back the Americans out OF the salient
they held opposite Jaulsonnc did not
come until tonight. Its message set
all doubts at rest. Again the enemy
lad hccn outmatch by the Americans.
lie was driven back TO the river rim
and many prisoners. trapped probably
by the destruction OF their bridges be-
hind them. were taken.
Tonight Secretary Baker. General
March and other officials were late at
t.c depa rtment, studying the map upon
y Which this first great trial OF the Amcri-
can army was taking such shape as
more details came in. The French Off
ial statement fully confirmed the cheer
Ing unofficial reports that had come
previously. 1t showed the Germans had
been virtually held fast along the whole
great extent OF tho lighting line they
had selected. At the close of the first
day OF the battle the enemy was no
nearer his objective. apparently, than
Continued ON Second Pagc.D