Omaha daily bee., 1918-07-31
BAT TIE
IN new
PHASE
Increased Fury Foreshadows
Approach of Crisis; Picked
Troops Hurled Against
Yanks' Spearhead.
BY Associated Press.

Washington, July so.-The
second battle of the Marne has
entered a new phase. Both
French and German officia1
statements tonight reflected the
increased fury of the fighting
indicating to officials a new
crisis is approaching.
1t was not clear whether the enemy
had reached a line on which he pro.
posed to halt. The general trend of his
present front along the irregular line
that now forms the bottom of the
Aisne.Marne salient was regarded by
most observers as not representing
positions of such nature as would
lend themselves to determinde ef-
fort to bring the allied forces to d
halt.
Attacks Center on Spearhead.
The intensity of the struggle and
the vigor with which picked German
troops have been hurled forward ir
local counter attacks showed con-
clusively the importance the German
high command attaches to holding
fast, for the moment at least. The
!. reaction appeared to center on the
American spearhed at the center oi
the enemy position. It was quite
evident that the Germans regarded
this thrust as menacing.
Officers based their views on press
reports coming from London, Paris
or the fighting fronts. These told
Of repeated attacks and counter at
tacks, but summary of all reports
seemed to show that the Germans had
failed to relieve their situation, al.
though the rapidity of the advance
was reduced. Last accounts indicated
the American positions southeast OF
Fere-en-T Tardenois had been retained
The fereest fighting Of the battle ap-
pears to have taken place here with
the village of Sergy as the storm
center.
development Threatened.
If the American .spearhead is fur
ther advanced, this, coupled with
French and British flank operations to
the east and west, would create a
situation that might we'll force fur
ther German withdrawal to escape
development on one side or the other
of the American thrust, it was
thought. There was some fear that
the impetuosity of the American
troops might lead them too far. for
word in case of renewed successes,
placing them in danger in their turn
of squeeze operations by the enemy.
Whether the enemy resistance is
along definite line or is merely a
screen behind which he is struggling
either to prepare strong defense posi-
tion. along the heights of the Vesle
or TO organize resistance could not
be told. The report that II German
divisions had been concentrated i'll
this section, led to speculation as to
the answer the Germans are plans
ming to the striking victory General
Foch has thus far achieved
May Announce Units Engaged.
Secretary Baker said today that he
favored announcement of the speci-
.fc units engaged in such operations
as the battle OF Sergy or the crossing
of the Ourcq
Mr.. Baker also anticipated that
General March would be prepared to
detail the supplemental regulations
on which he has been at work which
will complete the merging of all
branches of the army, regular, ma
.tional army or national guard, into a
single army. This is already largely
an accomplished fact under an opinion
rendered by the acting Judge advo-
cate general in which it was held that
there was but one army, the army OF
the United States, and that every ele-
ment Of it should be interchangeable,
regardless Of its origin.