The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1918-07-26
AMERICAN TROOPS
BREAK HUN LINES
GIGANTIC VICTORY WON by
FRENCH AND = AMERICAN
FORCES IN ALLIED DRIVE.
More Than Twenty Villages Captured
Germans Driven Back on Front of
70 Miles, Many Prisoners and
War Material Being Taken.

Washington. - All America is re.
Jolcing at the good news that comes
from France, showing that our boys
over there" have made good on the
most sangulne predictions made for
them. They have demonstrated that
as soldiers, as well as civilians, they
nave no peers in the world.
A gigantic victory was won by the
American and French forces on July
u, more than twenty villages having
been recaptured, on a front of twenty
eight miles, thousands of prisoners and
much important war material being
taken.
1t was SPLENDID victory What
the full effect of the blow will be can
not be estimated until details of the
action along the whole twenty-eight-
mile front from Chateau Thierry to
scissors, from which the surprise at
tack was launched, are available.
1t was clear beyond mistake, how
ever, that in the rush of the first day
OF this answer of General Foch to the
German attack east and west of
Rheims, the enemy had been placed in
position from which he may have.
great difficulty in extricating himself.
Not only may the German effort west
of Rheims and south of the Marine be
wholly nulified, but all they nave ac-
complished since the battle of the
Atsne began months ago may be over
turned
Just at the peep of day the Ameri-
cans went over the top, at the signal
Lets CO." Over the parapets leaped,
bayonets fixed, thousands after thou
sands of fighting men, Americans and
French. Out across No Mans Land
they dashed. Twenty-Five miles, of
front that had been thought asleep was
suddenly alive, ablaze, swarming with
picturesquely mingled khaki and hori-
zon blue. The Yanks and PoiIus were
going" Now-and not until now
the guns, tuned up. A myriad French
and American shells whistled over
head bidding Godspeed to the storm
ing lads. AS the first shower of hot
metal fell upon the German support
and reserve positions, the foes first
lines were already taken.
| On stormed the Yanks and PoiIus-
one, three, five miles and on. When
| night came they We're still going,
sweeping everything before them. The
whole German front between soissons
and CHATEAU Thierry, on the Marine, Is
shaking. And the danger to the Ger
mans lies in the fact that this front
| is their right flank. If it caves in, all
their forces must get back beyond the
Aisne, must get back in a hurry, In a
rout, or their enlightenment ana capture
! is inevitable.
| The enemy early began to bring up
| strong reinforcements. Fresh troops
have appeared Mt various points and
| a heavy counter-attack will probably
| have to be withstoOd.
scissors, the great Aisne railhead
which fell to the Germans in their May
drive is UNDER bombardment by
French and American shells French
and American troops are within mile
of the city. Its fall may be announced
any moment.
The enemy was routed and for the
most part fled before the American adj
vance abandoning even light guns and
ammunition. Only here ana there
along the line was strong resistance
offered and at these points the Ger
mans were attacked with rifle and
bayonet, before which they retreated
steadily.
The American troops, including
those returning, bandaged, are In high
spirits. The Americans have received
warm expressions of thanks from the
French commanders.
The British were not idle on the 18th
their line having also been consider
ably advanced south of the Somme.
Take it all in all, it was bad day
for the Huns, and as result of the
days fighting, perhaps the followers of
the Kaiser will begin to realize that
America really is in the war, and is to
be reckoned with.