Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-07-19
70 HUN DIVISIONS
BEATEN IN BATTLE,
$4,000 CAP TURtD
France Thrilled Over Victory Which
Has Forced Back Foe Three 10
Five Miles With Great Losses.
SEVERE FIGHTING TO-DAY

BY Associated Press to Every Evening
PARIS. July 10 France IL thrilled BY
the news that on the fourth day of the
German offensive French and American
troops snatched the initiative from the
enemy by surprise, and soundly beating
- Of his divisions on 20 mile front IT
IS felt that Thursday marked the ebb of
Germany offensive power
- completely were the Germans sur
prised that the Franco Americans adj
vanced IN places two miles m the first
hour They continued their progress
IN the afternoon in the teeth Of growing
resistance The average depth Of the
gains for the whole day vas between
three and four miles At some points
the Allies advanced FIVE miles. according
TO latest advlces from the front
The Allied gains southwest Of Soissons
will prevent the enemy from using the
railways 10 Laon, Chateau Thierry and
Rheims and along the Aisne. which are Of
vital Importance to him. scissors is
the keystone Of the German system and
II Is expected the enemy will throw IN the
heaviest forces IN an attempt 70 fend OF
the present danger
Military commeutors are UNANIMOUS IN
calling Thursday tranco-American adj
vance hne success. but deprecate
jumping 70 conclusions. as the battle
Is still gong on
Henri BIdou saws the fact thar the
German reserves intended 70 support
the offensive Of July - have rushed TO
the rescue Of General von Boehm makes
the continuation OF the drive toward
Epernay difficult
We have arrived at the moment when
the manipulation of the French divisions
Is gong 10 be decisive ami III that game
we may believe the last word mas not been
SAID adds Bidou
The newspapers Intentionally give
little information IN regard 70 the battle
going ON and the results obtained They
hold themselves generally 10 the Official
statement All the critics are enthusI-
asttc over the success obtained ycster-
day By taking the initiative. ii Is
held Gen Foch has compelled the Ger
mans at the moment of boasting that
they were delivering a supreme peace
assault. to use their reserves at the point
and time selected bv the generahssiIno
The Echo lie Paris expresses the con
viction that the tranco-.tmerlcan sue
cess will be confirmed fully today Il
says the German general staff viii do its
utmost To stralghten out It's affairs. but
the Allies have the upper hand The
question for Gen Ludeudorff now is not
whether 10 enter tpernay, declares the
Matin, but 10 consider means Tor the
salvation Of he divisions he has thrown
across the AIarne
l. L'iiomme Libre SAYS without intend
ing to divulge the number of prisoners
and guns captured SAYS it Is iullY equIVa-
lent to the number announced by the
Germans as having been captured on July
IL. The German official statement on
Tuesday announced that Is, 900 prisoners
had been taken Monday
The official statement ISSUED 1t 5 . m
SAYS
Between the Al>ne and he Maruc.
our troops >urnountlng he resistance cf
the enemy which was increased bv the
arrival of rev reserves. realized sensible
progress at the close Of Yesterday The
number oi prisoners counted Is beng
augmented Ihc battle continues with
violence along the whole front
Vest of Rheims and south ot the
Marne, our troops yesterday, by Il vigor-
ous attack retook Montyoisin and threw
the cnemy cut OF the outskirts of Oeuilly
To the north Of the Marnc wc have
made progress in the Roi wood and the
CoHton wood and carried our line a
ktlometre To the westward
Further north the Italians have taken
Moulin d Ardre and conquered ground
in the region of Boully
In the course Of these actions the
French have captured four cannon. thirty
machine guns and 100 prisoners.
Between Montddier and Novon and
also III the Woevre region IN raids against
the German lines We captured lOl
prisoners