Licking Valley courier., 1918-07-25
NEWS REVIEW OF
The PAST WEEK
Fifth German Offensive, on the
Marine, Quickly Checked by
French and Yankees.
START DRIVE OF THEIR own
Line North Of Chateau Thlerry Pushed
Eastward-huns Lose Heavily In
Fierce Fighting East and
West Of Reims.
BY EDWARD W. PIcKARp.

Up to the hour Of writing, Germany's
supreme effort" to win Teutonic
victory by smashing through the al
lies lines has been dismal and costly
failure. The Huns had gained nothing
worth mentioning, and had lost perhaps
100000 men. More than, that, II ap-
pesred they had lost theIf fasf'ckahte
to demolish the defenses of the allies,
md had sustained defeat that would
play havoc with the morale Of their
troops and with the support Of the
civilian population of Germany.
As soon as the German offensive
seemed safely checked, General FOch
took the initiative and put on a drive
of his own that sent thrill through
all the allied countries. French and
American troops, secretly and careful
ly concentrated, were launched In
great attack on twenty-five mile
front between Belleau wood and the
Aisne river. The enemy was taken
completely by surprise, and the allies
following a tremendous rolling bar
rage, advanced swiftly taking on the
first day more than twenty towns and
villages, many cannon and large num-
bers Of prisoners. They then were
close to Soissons, commanding II with
their guns, and were In the outskirts
of Neuilly st. Front. Culchy, the key
to the Chateau Thlerry sector, was
threatened; many of the railways and
roads Of supply for the German armies
In the south were cut or under shell
fire, and II appeared that Ludendorr
would have to act quickly and power
fully or be driven entirely out Of the
Chateau Thlerry salient II not back
to the Alsne.
As this 10 written the battle in that
region is still going on, with the Ger
man resistance stifened by the bring
Ing up Of fresh troops. The Franco
American drive at least served to les
sen the Hun pressure on the defensive
lines about Relms, though II was pre-
mature to say that the ancient cathe'
dral city would not have to be eyacu'
ated, or that the Germans In the
Marne district had been beaten to Il
standstlll. Severe as was their check
they still had great forces in reserve
-@EJ
This latest German drive, directed
by Ludendorif, opened early Monday
with q tremendous attack at nearly
all points along 65-mlle front from
\ Chateau Thlerry to Main de MOssiges
east of Reims. The immediate
defenses OF Relms were not assaulted
but II seemed to be the intention Of
the Huns to squeeze the allies out oi
that city and to eliminate the sail
ent there, and then to force thell
: way on TO Epernay and Chalons. The
! onrush OF the FIRST day bent back thu
allied line in places, but nowhere wa'
II broken; much OF the lost grount
. was speedily regained, and when thu
: second day came to close II WA
considered that the offensive had beer
definitely stopped. None Of It's oh
: jectlves had been attained, though th'
German commanders employed abou
10000 men In their fierce attacks
Won Bernhard, the famous PrussinT
strategist, once said an offensive whlcl
, Is brought TO standstlll is con
. quered offensive, and the allies tool
! that view " the situation.
~
: with pride and qualification Amer
!, lea learned Of the splendid part plOyet
by Its soldiers In this third battle o
the Marne. Some 2500O0 Of then
were involved, holding especially tn
sectors just west and east Of Chotea,
n Thlerry, and they acquitted them
/. selves In u manner that won the un
Q qualified praise Of the French CON
. nanders. In the 1rst place, they sui