The Elbert County tribune., 1918-07-19


Paris, July 1G--In the desperate
fighting which is reported in the Off
cial communication from the war of
flee last night. following the resump-
ton of the gigantic German offensive,
the American troops are given the
credit of driving back the Germans
who had succeeded in crossing the
Marne southwest of Fossoy. In the
long sector between Dormans and
Rheims, Franco-American troops are
reported to be resisting the German
assault valantly. and east Of Rheims
the enemy attack has met with what
is characterized as 'an irreducible de-
fense"
A French report says: The attack
ing force was completely demoralized
and retired in disorder We immedi-
ately counter attacked and advanced
our lines 750 yards We took twenty
seven prisoners. No further attacks
have been made on Vaux. I have just
received a semi-official, report that
following the vaux attack the Ameri-
cans advanced on the west side of Hill
204 so far that the Germans expected
an attack and evacuated the hill they
have paid so much to hold during the
last three weeks. .sa.s ..lzdsil-
The German prisoners captured in
the counter attack by the Americans
at the bend on the Marne number be-
tween 1000 and 500. They include
complete brigade staff. a ftat5
p - q
London, July 16.-The great Ger.
man attack was definitely held up on
the whole front east of Rheims five
hours after It was launched. accord
ing to the latest advices reaching
London, and the only German gains
worth mentioning were in the neigh
borhood of the Souain road and Pru
nay, where they succeeded in pene
trating for about one and one-hali
miles on a narrow front At both
these points the French initiated
strong counter attacks late in the
morning. On the front west of Rheims
the Germans had rather more success
but the only important gain to their
Credit for the mornings work was the
Ecrossing of the Marne and zone lit
tie more than mile beyond on front
of about ten miles. 9i - lt-aaHj
+ The Marne in this district is only a
small river; it is shallow and can
easily be crossed in the early morn.
Ing mists. Its loss to the allies, how
ever. deprives them of a fairly valu,
able defensive landmark
T. The battle began with wholesale
i hn nur "A MT i'm tod
night Sunday along the Whole front
from Chateau Thierry to Massiges.
except for a narrow sector around
| Rheims. =
This intensified bombardment of the
| French lines, with the usual accompan-
iment of trench mortars by the thous-
andsy also was reinforced by a long
range bombardment of the back areas
on scale greater than ever hereto
fore attempted This back area bonn
bardment was Systematically directed
along the line of Chalons. Montmirail
and La Ferte-sous-J ouarre, and the
map shows that this line is located
from twelve to eighteen miles behind
the French front. This is evidence that
long range guns of the most powerful
and far-reaching variety must have
been used In numbers greater than ev-
er before.
The only other fighting of moment
reported from the front occurred on
tthe Villers- s-Brettoneux sectors in front
of Amiens. where the British have i'm
proved their positions t4
Rome. July 16.-Further advances
by the Italians and French in southern
Albania have seriously compromised
the enemy positions and probably Will
lnecessitate further retreat north
wards. freeing the allied communica.
tions between western Macedonia and
the Adriatic. dispatch from the Ital.
Ian front In Albania stated.
The Austrians continue to fall bae
in disorder. burning depots and vii
lagos which they are forced to aban-
don. The village OF Butcher is in
flames.