Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1918-07-29
BY EDWARD W. PlckARp.

~ ~ s2S nVeA VI WkAG4&t NCkLA1hy
supreme effort" to win a Teutonic
victory by smashing through the al
lies lines has been dismal and costly
failure. The Huns had gaiRed nothing
worth mentioning, and had lost perhaps
100000 men. More than that, it ap-
peared they had lost their last chance
to demolish the defenses Of the allies,
and had sustained defeat that would
play havoc with the morale Of their
troops and with the support Of the
civilian population of Germany.
Il AS soon as the German offensive
aemed safely checked, General Foch
took the initiative and put on a drive
of his own that sent a thrill through
all the allied countries. French and
American troops, secretly and careful
'ly concentrated, were launched In
great attack on 4 twenty-five mile
front between lleau wood and the
Aisne flyer e enemy was taken
completely x4rprise, and the allies.
following tremendous rolling p=r-
rage, advAsesd swiftly taking on the
first day more than twenty towns and
villages nTaRy cannon and large num-
bers of prisoners. They then were
close to scissors, commanding 1t with
their guns, and were In the outskirts
of Neuilly st. Front. Culchy, the key
to the Chateau Thierry sector, was
threatened; many Of the railways and
roads of supply for the German armies
in the south were cut or under shell
Are, and it appeared that Ludendorn
would have to act quickly and power
fully or be driven entirely out Of the
Chateau Thierry salient IL not back
to the Aisne.
As this is written the hattie ia that
region is still going on, with the Ger
man resistance stsffened by the bring
ing up Of fresh troops. The Franco
American drive at least served to les
sen the Hun pressure on the defensive
lines about Reims, though it was pre-
mature to say that the ancient cathe-
dral city would not have to be evacu-
ated, or that the Germans in the
Marine district had been beaten to a
standstill. Severe as was their check,
they still had great forces in reserve.
- "a
This latest German drive, directed
by Ludendorff, opened early Monday
with a tremendous attack at nearly
all points along q 6S-mile front from
Chateau Thierry to Main de Massiges,
east of Reims. The immediate
defenses of Reims were not assaulted,
but 1t seemed to be the intention Of
the Huns to squeeze the allies out Of
that city and to eliminate the sail
eat there, and then to force their
way on to Epernay and Chalons. The
onrush Of the 6rst Gay bent back the
allied line In places, but nowhere was
it broken; much Of the lost ground
was speedily regained, and when the
second day came to q close 1t was
considered that the offensive had been
definitely stopped None Of its OBJ
jectives had been attained, though the
German commanders employed about
10000 men In their fierce attacks.
Won Bernhard, the famous PruSSian
strategist, once said an offensive which
is brought to standstill 10 q con-
quered offensive, and the allies took
that view Of the situation.
With pride and qualification Amer
lea learned of the splendid part played
by it's soldiers in this third battle of
the Marine. Some 100000 of them
were involved, holding especially the
sectors just west and east of Chateau
Thierry, and they acquitted them
selves In a manner that won the I'M
qualified praise of the French COM
manders. In the first place, they sus-
rtained a powerful assault on Vaux,
west of Chateau Thierry, and though
forced out Of that village momentarily,
they regained possession OF 1T by a
brilliant counter-attack. Then, far
Their to the east, at the Jaulgonne
bend of the Marne, they were called
on to check a tremendous rush OF
Huns across the river. Their advanced
line fell back, the guns all the time
slaughtering the Germans who were
trying to get over with pontOens and
canvas boats. Then the main line
of defense came into action, changed
itself into a line of offense, and swept
the enemy back, across or into the
river, killing great numbers and cap
turing about 1,500, including COM
plete brigade staff. The fighting in
that sector continued with great In
tensity, bat the Americans command
ed the river front at the bend.
On Tuesday the Americans, in CO.
operation with the French, launched
heavy attacks between st. Agnan and
La Chapelle- Monthodon southeast Of
Jaulgonne, where the Germans had
succeeded in getting considerable
forces across the river The enemy
was driven back steadily and both
these villages, as well as others, were
recaptured. From DormRnS, north
ward toward Reims, In q sector held
by Franco-Italian forces, the Huns at
first advanced two or three miles
but occupied no positions of impor-