The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-07-19
YANKEES SHASi1
GERMANS BACK
In Crushing Blow Sweep Past
all Objsctives.
Ten TOWNS ARE CAPTURED
American Artillery Mows Down En-
envy, Who Are Unatls to Stop
Rush-4ooO Prisoners and Many
Guns Taken.

With the Amer can Army in France,
July 19.-American storm troops III
large numbers launched, in co-"pera-
ton with the French, a powerful sur
prise offensive on the line TO the north
of Chateau Thierry.
The Americans have passed beyond
nearly all their detectives, including
the Paris scissors road. They have
captured these towns west OF Cha
teau Thierry; Niller-Heldon, Dam
mard, Courchamps, Licy-Clignon,
Monthiers, Torcy, Belleau, Givray, ST.
Gengoulph, Hautesvenes and other
small villages, farms, heights and
woods, including Givery wood, and
scissors is within their grasp.
They have taken many prisoners
and and the fighting is still raging
furiously.
The entire offensive operation is GO
ing at this hour, even better than had
been expected. The enemy so far has
been unable to withstand the shocks
the Americans and their allies have
delivered and are still delivering.
AS the whole German left flank is
menaced the enemy must draw in his
troops from the Marine front or risk
their being caught where they are.
This means that the finishing blow
possibly has been administered to his
dying offensive.
In the region of scissors, where the
attack was especially successful, the
Americans carried everything before
them by storm. From the second to
the third objective they swept behind
q third barrage The second objec
tives were usually taken by the troops
of the first units, who had dug in at
the first detectives.
The resistance to the south was es
pecially vicious. At some places the
American advancing troops were held
up, but only temporarily.
The American troops went over the
top with a cheer in the launching of
the allied surprise attack on the front
northwest of Chateau Thierry. The
enemy was taken completely by sur
prise all along the line.
The American troops We're brought
up in the night together with their
French comrades of crack units and
lay in their positions until five o'clock
in the morning. At that hour the
American and French artillery open
ed fire
The Americans advanced behind a
terrific barrage to their first Obj &C.
tiveS in less than half an hour While
they were digging in, more Americans,
in most cases, passed over the first
detectives and then advanced behind
the resumed barrage to the second OBJ
jectives, which were speedily taken,
especially at the north end of the at
tack opposite the Paris scissors road.
Numerous tanks participated in the
offensive.
The American infantry went into
the attack without. previous artillery
preparation. In their attack behind
the rolling barrage they captured
many guns, machine guns, prisoners,
equipment and material.
The Germans in most places offered
feeble resistance, but here and there
they put up stubborn fight which
the American shock units quickly over
came at the point of the bayOnet and
at the muzzles of their weapons.
The final detectives in the Givry
and Torcy sector were reached in
about two hours of hard fighting.
The troops on this part of the front
did equally as well as those on the
front further north, taking quantities
Of material and prisoners. who con-
tinue streaming back.
The towns of Torcy and Givry and
the Givry wood were taken by the
Americans in their advance.
Hastily organized counter attacks
against the Americans developed here
and there, but all were broken up and
our troops continued to advance. In
the front under attack the Franco
American forces captured eighteen
guns.
Probably the most stubborn resist
ance to the allied advance developed
in the region west of Chaudun, which
is four and half miles south of Sois-
sons The Americans and French,
fighting side by side. however, refused
TO be checked The American machine
guns moved the enemy down and then
our troops went on.
The fighting still continues in this
region and seems likely to becolg'
heavier when the German reserves
arrive.