Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-07-17
WASHINGTON HEARS
OF HEAVY LOSSES AND
FAILURE TO ADVANCE

Washington, July 16-The war de-
partment tonight received inforlna
tion !; OF. the .tmeric IN military at
1achc q: Paris of heavy losses sr..s.
.Iaiued hy German IS 'lult;r-, AN
les TO the west and east Of Rheims
and Of The failure of the enemy 10
make substantial progress against
the allied resistance during the pas
a hours. No late dispatches had been
received from either General Per
shing or General Bliss.
The war department issued ti1.c
statement:
AT midn ight the war department
was net IN receipt of late dispatches
from General Bliss or General Perish
ing, ,hut ii was in communication
with the military attache at Par;s.
information from this late sourc"
does not deal specifically with tlH
DAVIS point Of attack and defense.
but brings Information Of heavy
losses sustained by the Snemy's at
lacking forces. and Of his failure y
make substantial progress against
the allied resistance during the pas,
4 hours"
General PcrshinG's communique
fnr yesterday he'd not been recover
at the department late tonight. Ii
HE ordinary course il would nave
come this morning but probably has
he,n DELAYED by the crowded condl-
non Of the cables So far as IS known
NO information as to the losses
&mone the American troops in yes
,crGay's fighting has been receiEc0.
Ii aupears certain that for the mo
ment the American forces alon' t1e
Marine have held the door 10 Pafia
against the enemy. promptly Testoi'r S
the general trend of their original Ines
wherever the first rush OF the en'n'i
yesterday had swept them back. The
major actions in the BATHS develops
today Immediately to the east OIL me
sorjgiral American positions. SThere :h@
enemy apparently is firmly lodged
across the river and heavy pressure -
being brought by Franco-Ameficah
forces to eject him.
The German position here appears
somewhat preearious. 1t was agreed
| on the basis of unofficial as we'll as
more, meagre official accounts that IN
less they were able without great delay
TO extend their advance and widen the
, dent 4hey have made in the French line,
General Foch might seize the opportu-
nitv to swing flank assault from the
American position TO the west in an Ell
. fort to trap the army Of Gen. Won
Roehn. which Berlin claims crossed the
river here.
Considering the operations OF the
American troops only officials were
more than satisfied with the showing
, they are making. 1t is the first great
battle in which they have engaged and,
while previous indications have been
plentiful that they would sustain the
hest traditions of the American serv,cr
SO far as courage and pure lighting spr-
it went. some confusion and disorgan-
izat ton was to have been expected II
it developed, however, the swiftness an |
certainty with which counter-attacks
we're sent home shows that it was
quickly overcome to the disruption Of
the enemy's plans on the right of his
line. He is still held up there withou:
places.
So far as the present drive goes. much
satisfaction is taken here In the fact
that the German right ran into an
abrupt check against the Americans
who still hold what will be the very
center OF assault IL a new thrust at
Paris is to follow the present efforts.