Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-07-17
HUNS BEST TROOPS
ANDHARDEST BLOWS
CRUSHED ON MARINE
Great Drive, Announced as a
Peace March is Completely
Repulsed by Allies.
YESTERDAY FIGHT SEVERE

London, July 17.-All day yesterday
the battle ragged furiously at many
points on the front of the new German
offensive, from Chateau hierry to the
Argonne.
The kaiscr's hest troops have been
thrown into the struggle which is UNI
officially described already as an effort
equal 10 the first German offensive OF the
year. beginning on March u, and has
been announced to the German soldiers as
the "Friedcnstrum' storm of peace },
or peace offensive.
The results of the encmy's efforts
have thus far been mcagro i'll com
parison with their stated objectives for
the second day of the struggle, and they
have paid heavy price for what they
have gained.
Southwest of Rheims, toward Chateau
Thicrry, where, apparently, they at
tempted To deal their sCvCrcst stroke. IN
the hope OF reaching Epcrnay quickly,
they had thrust forward Yesterday to
~ Agnan La Chapcllc and Monthodon
about four miles south of the Marne IN
the region cast Of Mondays successful
counter attack of the American troops.
AMERICANS AND FRENCH GAIN GROUND.
Here they were attacked in force
hv American and French troops and
driven out Of the villages st Agnan
and La Chapclle and from the heights
Ia the north, dominating the Marine
Valley ri this point This represented
the recovery of nearly milo Of ground
The struggle is still proceeding there
To the northeast, where the battle
front crossed the Marine south Of Cha
tlllon. an intense combat took place
Yesterday for the possession Of Nareull le
Point, on tho southern bank of the rlvcr.
Large forces OF Americans were sent
up 10 support Pctaln's men at this point,
but the allied troops were compelled, Ivy
sheer pressure Of the enemy numbers, to
fall back. fighting foot hv foot, and at a
late hour yesterday were on n line OF
Octully-Icnvrlgny labout two mules north
east along the river IN the direction Of
Epcrna>
Chatlllon. north of the Marine, is
already in German hands according 70
last night official bulletin from Berlin. |
the enemy thus making some progress in
their apparent aim to flank Rheims from |
the west ~ part Of their general program |
THr STRUGGLE EAST or RHFtMs
10 tho cast Of Rheims also, There !
have been some severe engagements, but |
not I'll along the front
The chief German thrust was made |
toward prunay. about FIVE mules south |
east of Rheims The town was won by |
the French, who, however. are intrcnched |
on the southern hank Of the Ncsle, and |
have prevented the Germans from adj |
vancIng further
At other points along this old Cham
payne front the cncm, Is being held VOL. |
The gains made elsewhere are small
Another American force is in action
on this front. but the location is not |
revealed by dispatches
The German official bulletin reports !
$4,000 prisoners taken already in this |
offensive
The Allies have likewise captured many |
Germans. Some additional ones were |
taken by the American troops, in ad- |
dition to the large number that fell into |
their hands YESTERDAY in their counter |
drive on the Marine front
Troops IN that area have had com
paratively calm day after Mondays |
terrific onslaught by tho enemy