Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1918-07-17


along the west bank Of the Disc, the
new phase of their mighty offensive
by attacking from Chateau Thierry
to Maison de Champagne, north Of
Massiges and far east of Rheims,
over front 65 miles in length.
Latest reports from the battlefield
state that the Germans have crossed
the Marne at several places. This
probably refers to the reaches Of the
Marne between Chateau Thierry and
Dormans.
American troops are engaged in
the battle in this particular region,
and reports say they are "handling
the enemy we'll" They broke up the
German drive in the VauX region,
west Of Chateau 1hierry, by dashing
counter attacks.
The American positions extend
northwest of Chateau Thierry to the
village of Torcy, on the Clignon
river, and eastward along the Marne
to Jaulgonne, where they have been
engaged in local fighting recently.
Gen. Liggett has about 100000 men,
the First Army Corps, in this section.
So far as known, no American troops
are In the neighborhood Of Rheims,
which seems to be the center of the
tremendous storm loosed by the en-
emy at dawn to-day. There have
been Italian forces on the line to the
southwest OF Rheims, under attack
in the present drive.
Drive Greatest of Year.
Reports show that so far as the
length Of line is concerned, the pres
ent drive Is the greatest of the year.
At first it was believed from the
French war Office statement that the
line was about so miles in extent,
but apparently the report from Paris
told simply Of the length Of the
, French-held lines under attack. Mea-
surements Of the line where fighting
Is known to be going on, however,
show that it is 105 meters, or 65.1
miles long. The attack against the
Cambrai front on March 81 was over
a front Of SIS miles,
Last night q terrible artillery fire
was loosed against the allied lines
from Chateau Thierry on the west to
Maison de Champagne and Massiges
to the east. For hours the entente
allied lines were under a tempest Of
the most tremendous character. Not
/ only was the actual battle area un-
der bombardment, but towns and
cities far behind the lines were made
targets, for great 10 and 12-inch pro-
jectiles were fired from what appears
to be naval siege guns brought up be-
mind the German positions.
During the past few weeks 1t has
been rumored that the resumption Of
the German offensive would witness
long range bombardment of places,
which would heretofore be consider
ed at safe distance from the front.
These rumors proved to be true.
The lay world had expected the
German main effort to be loosed
against the line from the Marne to
the Aisne, north of Chateau Thierry
IN the Picardy sector, towards Able
Vile, or further north, IN the Lys Sec
tor against the channel ports. Along
this line the allies have been daily
improving their lines and preparing
for the new drive, which, except for
surprise attack around Rheims late
In June, has been quiet since the Of
fensive launched on the Aisne on
May 27 came to a standstill. East Of
Rheims and north of Chalone there
mas been but little fighting of signifi-
cance for a long time.
The Germans Strike.
With the American Army on the
Marne, July Is, $40 A. M.-The
Germans at daylight to-day launched
violent attack against the Ameri-
can positions west Of Chateau Thier-
ry, especially near Vaux.
The attack came after a most vio-
lent bombardment of high explosives
and gas shells throughout the night.
me American troops sought shelter
wherever 1t was available. When the
enemy infantry appeared, the Amer
leans sWarmed out and met the at
tackers with rain. Of machine gun
bullets.
The Americans wore their gas
masks as they fought the attacking
Germans. An enemy bOmbardment
OF towns in the rear OF the line be-
gan shortly after 6 o'clock a. m.
Americans Hold Own.
The latest reports say the Ameri-
cans are holding their own in the
fighting, maintaining their positions.
Word received here shows that the
enemy also launched an attack east
OF Rheims, but on the sectors on that
front on which French and Ameri-
cans are lighting side by side, the po-
sitions are reported intact.
The American machine gunners
here let the enemy come close to
their positions and then opened a
deadly fire into the advancing close
formations Of Germans.
In their attack on the Marne front
the Germans threw many bridges
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