The sun., 1918-07-19

lions distinguished themselves, 40 did
the commanders who issued orders for
them. So skillfully did the French gem
erals manage the defense that fully half
Of the German shells fell in territory
totally destitute OF Frenchmen.
The French engineers also deserve
world OF credit for tho clever way in
which the French outpost positions were
placed and protected. These outposts
were placed in such a way that the
enemy, in order to reach them, had to
expose himself to both frontal and cross
Are from French guns. Many OF the
machine guns were 80 completely con-
cealed that the Germans could not pos
sibly find them, and when the gray
hordes began to come over these gun
ners moved them down In huge bunches
The French in the Champagne believe
to a man that they have brought this
latest Of the German big efforts to
standstilL
This morning the fighting positions re-
mained practically unchanged. The
enemy pursued his policy Of making de-
rached efforts at widely separated and
Isolated points along the front, but met
with very moderate success.
South of the Dormans district yestsr-
day the French counter attacked the
Germans who had gained a footing on
Bourdonnerie farm. Tho only place the
Germans were able to make n further
advance was south OF the Marine. below
Oeuilly, where they took Montvoisin VII
lage, although the village itself was
quickly retaken by the French This Is
undoubtedly the most dangerous point or
the attack.
r~xsu~ So UaAsu aouth Front.
The German efforts TO push forward
again at st. Agnan, Chapelle and Com
blizy are all part of the design to widen
their front south Of the Marine. leaving
Paris temporarily on account OF the lack
of any decided advantage In pressing In
that direction. To advance along the
river to Bpernay would threaten that
important railroad town. and would be
Of help in the campaign against
Rheims.
Regarding this plan It may be said
FIST, there does not seem much chance
to carry IL out, due to the way the
French are resisting. and. second, the
very fact that they are compelled to UNI
dertake such an enterprise shows how
far short the German plans are falling
in this offensive when contrasted with
the giant forward strides they made In
the first days OF their previous drives.
The fighting last night and this morn
ing was especially directed by the en-
envy to enlarsing the strip OF country
he had seized south of the Marine. While
Yesterday he started rushing along the
Marine toward Epernay. American troops
with great dash flung him back over
the stream in the direction OF Chateau
Thierry, almost making up on the wings
what had been lost in other directions.
II to-day's reports furnish anything
like a permanent indication OF the fu-
ture course OF the battle tho German Of
fensive will settle down to the extremely
limited and awkward objective OF cut
ting behind Rheims. thus obiterating
that salient.
According to latest news the enemy
has advanced from Ceuilly, on the
Marine halfway between Dormans and
Epernay, to Montvoisin. which Is only
ten kliometers from Epernay.
East OF Rheims. particularly in the
neishborhood OF Brunay. the enemy is
struggling furiously to break the French
line. In this sector Gourauds troops
have inflicted tremendous damage on the
enemy.
Best German Troops Smitten.
The most severely tried troops In the
Third and Fifth divisions of Prussan
Guards. that Is to say some of Ger
manys best troops
The F'ranco-American counter attack
drew the Germans out OF Santagnan 10
Chapelle and forced them to climb the
hills toward the Marine. Bourdonnerie
farm. which the Germans managed to
reach. is close to the road leading from
the Chateau Montdon, four kilometers
frpy MI ba
ton evidently il not secure.
lie Libcrte gives details showing the
vigorous nature OF the defence the
French arc putting up along the whole
line AT IL O'Clock Monday morning
seven hours after the offensive started
the German troops between Jaulgonne
and east OF Dormans had been unable
to make any advance: they were liter
ally nailed in their tracks by the stub
born defence.
At Condo Wood and the little villages
Of Saconay. Montlavon, Chezy. Clos and
at Milton Farm there was furious fight
ing The Second and Ninth regiments
OF the Second Division OF Prussian
Guards had been detached from neigh
boring army under Won Boehm with
orders to fight their way through Condo
Wood
Desperate fighting followed. becom-
ing hand to hand In many places and
right in the midst of this fighting the
French were reinforced by attachments
of Americans. These Joined the French
and together they fought magniflcently
At Saconay the village was abandoned
by the allied fighters only after It was
seen that they were hopelessy outnum-
bered and after tremendous damage had
been inflicted on the enemy.
The fields between Condo Wood and
Saconay village were literally covered
with gray clad bodies. Further east, be-
tween Dormans and Troissy, the fighting
was equally severe. with the French and
Americans meeting attack with counter
attack and taking many prisoners.
1t was not until after 6 o'clock Mon
day evening that the French decided TO
abandon the line from SAINT Agnan TO
Monthodon. and then only because the
enemy had been strongly reinforced
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