The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-07-16

other prisoners showed that the enc
jectives between Chateau Thierry
and Dormans. A full enemy division
was identified as the Tenth. The
Americans engaged this same divi-
sion when they were thrown across
the path of the German advance on
Paris, in June, and stopped it.
Another remarkable phase Of the
battle was the lack of aerial obser-
walton in the middle Of the day.
While the weather was fairly clear
early in the day, the sky soon became
heavily cIouded and few airpIanes
were up when the Americans eoun-
ter attacked around noon. There
were two sharp showers late in the
afternoon, after which the sky again
became clear. Airpianes then began
to swarm in fIocks and scores OF al
lied bombing planes crossed the lines
and bombed bridges and all German
organizations from the front far to
the rear.
Strange sights were observed be-
hind the allied lines. MingEing In the
roads with the rushing traffic Of war
were French women and children,
who sat atop two-wheeied wagons,
fleeing from newly sheiIed homes.
American and French flags, put up
in celebration CT BastiIe day, were
still displayed everywhere in the
rearmost villages. Women and chill
dren took the American flags from
their windows and waved them as
American ambulances passed.
In the hospitals, not far from the
front, American doctors and nurses
worked untirinsIy, despite the fact
they were under almost constant fire
from the enemy's long range guns.
Success Of Americans.
WASHINGTON, July 16.-Success
of American troops in stopping the
German drive on their sector Monday,
was reported in cables to the war de-
partment by Generals Pershing and
Bliss.
Dispatches received from General
Pershing and General Bliss confirm
press accounts of yesterdays fighting"
said war department statement.
American troops. west of Surmelin
counter-attacked, captured prisoners.
established and are holding their adj
vance positions. Germany's barrage
was met by counter barrage which in
many places prevented the advance
OF their cover
ing the entire front are not available
The general situation this morning is
regarded as satisfactory. The first
day in such a battle, is, of course,
merely a general advance guard ac-
ton. The great pressure of reserves
and concentrated masses is still to be
looked for"
n c SoId;ere an Front
by Webb Miller. United Press Stan
Correspondent
PARIS. July 16.-American troops
are participating on huge scale in
their first battle of great importance.
Soldiers of the United States are hold
ing surprisingly large portion of the
line along which the German hordes
are endeavoring to break through to
Paris.
Against these troops. who are bri-
gaded with French units in great part,
the German high command is hurting
a considerable portion of the. remain
ing fresh reserves. which hitherto
had not been used in the series of
hammer smashes which have been
directed against the western front.
The German general staff had been
boarding these for the last fling.
These Germans apparently are us
ing the familiar nut-cracker tactics in
attempting to pinch off Rheims. They
are exerting powerful pressure on
the Chalons-Suippe road, where Chal-
ons, an important railway center is
the objective.
General Ludendorff. it is reckoned
here, possesses 100000 men in this
entire area which are to be used here