Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-07-21
four REGULAR, TWO
GUARD DIVISIONS
IN GREAT DRIVE
Maximum Penetration by
Franco-Anerican Attack
10 Miles; Average 7.
ENEMY'S WITHDRAWAL
EXCEEDINGLY DIFFICULT
Objective of Allied Attack, Sois
sons-ChateauT Thierry Railroad,
Has Been Attained.
RE E-ENFORCENENTS MOVING
American Troops Embarked for
France Have Now Gone i1c-
yond 100000 Mark.
ENEMY'S WITHDRAWAL
EXCEEDINGLY DIFFICULT
RE- -ENFORCEAlENTS
LEV Aseoeia,ch rrc.s


WASHINGTON. July .0.--Of!icial re-
ports TO the War Department. General
March told newspaper men to-day 1T
the weekly conference. showed maxi
mum penetration by the Franco-.Amcr-
lean counterat,ack Of ten miles and an
average penetration OF seven miles On
q twenty-,wo-m front
Tho attack still is being pressed. he
said. against heavy German reserves
The American troops engaged on this
front are the First. Second. Thiri and
Fourth regular divisions. and the
Twenty sixth and Twcnty-eighth Ma
t!onal Guard Divisions. TIA. Forty
second National Guard (Rainbow) is
stationed in the Champagne region.
An unattached regiment OF negro
troops from the %ine,y-,hirI National
Army Division is in cach sector
EMBAHKATIoN or TRocrs
HAS PASSED I.:0U.o 900 MARK
During his interview General March
disclosed The fact that the embirkatiom
OF American troops has passed the L.
100000 marx.
Iae War Department has no advices
that the city OF SCISSORS has fallen
but II is known % be under a heavy
nEe from American artillery and it's
id.I seems imminent.
General March said that the objective
OF the Franco American Countcrattack
was the Scissors Chateau -Thierry rail-
road. which. the allied command has
reason TO believe. is the principal
artery OF supply for the enemy in the
Chateau-Th!erry region. and also one
OF the principal sources 70. the Sec
tor south Of the Marine.
The French and American forces
either are already on this road or
have ii we'll under direct shell iir. of
their artillery.
The chief OF stan pointed out that
with this railroad in allied control the
German withdrawal from the sector
south Of the Marne would be rendered
difficult and their main railway line
TO the rear would be lost He indicated
that an attempt to withdraw IS antici-
pa,ed.
The latest German drive was In
tended as "nut-cracker operation"
against the city OF Rheims. General
March said. This drive had been den
n!tely stopped when General Foch
: struck on the right flank OF the Ger
y man effort. The enemy had advanced
four to FIVE miles OH ,wenty-three-
milo front.
port tina, French corps IN which
American divisions were operating, had
Captured 1900 prisoners and guns and
material in very helptu! amounts"
General March said the Illinois Ma
tiona! Guard Division. commanded by
Major General George Eell. Jr.. was in
the English training sector y unit
OF this division last week co-operated
with the Australians in successful
advance already repo-ted.
The Franco american offensive will
continue as long as it is possible to
force the Germans back. General March
stated.
Allied military opinion. General
March said. is unanimous that the Ger
man offensive moyemen; has been com
pletely stopped
General March told the Senator'S also
that the Germans h;.d been preparing
for an offensive agains: the British to
the north on the western battle front
TO be simultaneous with their last Of
fensive against the Franco American
front
For some reason. General March
stated, the drive against the British
was postponed. and that is the probable.
explanation given ior the British policv
of not attacking the Germans while The
French and Americans are engaged in
their offensive.