The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1918-07-26
REAL COUNTER IS
YET TO COMMENCE.
PRESENT ALLIED OFFENSIVE is
ONLY A MARKER COMPARED
WITH WHAT is TO COME
HUN REPORTS IGNORE YANKS
German Officials Fear to Let People
Know That Americans Are TAX
ing Large Part in Pushing
Back Their Butchers

Washington, July 20.-War depart
ment officials foresee the real counter
| offensive against the Germans later
in the present year, General March
chief of staff, indicated TO the house
military committee yesterday. He de-
clared the employment of possibly
eight American divisions in the pres
ent double battle on the Aisne-M Marine
Rheims front would not materially af-
feet plans TO hurl overwhelming man
power into the great drive against
power into the great drive later
against the enemy.
1t was made plain the smashing at
tack of Franco-American forces on
the AiSneMarne line is regarded only
as a minor operation in comparison
to what is to come. The success of the
drive launched Thursday by General
Foch has already been startling. Off
cial reports from Paris last night said
1900 prisoners and 800 guns had been
captured The Berlin statement adj
mitted the French advances but ig-
nored American participation and
claimed 10000 prisoners had been
taken in their drive launched last Mon
day. Apparently the enemy COM
manderS dare not admit to the Ger
man people that American armies are
already fighting over a long front and
scoring repeated successes over vet
eran German divisions.
Reports late in the day from London
and Paris indicated further advances
had been made by the Franco-Ameri-
can forces during the day. Official adj
vices from General Pershing led TO the
hope that scissors, nearly 10 miles in
side the German lines Wednesday
night, would be in allied hands within
4 short time. RumOrs that it had
already fallen and 10000 additional
ierman prisoners had been taken
we're in circulation, but no additional
ldvices from General Pershing had
arrived at a late hour last night.
Mr.. Baker indicated the high hopes
If war department officials in issuing
he following statement:
Bakers Statement.
'"The attention of the world is, of |
course, focused on the tremendous
COUNTER blow being delivered by Cen
raj FOch. Gradual extension of these |
perations to the east is indicated in |
he press dispatches. but it is not Off |
tally confirmed. The gain on the |
rOnt of the original counter thrust |
as been deepened, narrowing the sail
mt and making the position of the |
ierman occupants less tenable.
'We have no report of the capture
scissors, but the battle has been
aging at that part of the front and 4
ne fall of scissors seemed to be indi-
ated by the progress made at the time
latest official dispatches.
"The significance of this movement
es in the fact that the supreme COM
lander evidently feels the allied
)rces are now sufficiently strong to
lstify vigorous offensive action"
Unless the Franco-American troops
re brought to halt definitely before
unday night it is freely predicted the
lemy will be forced to fall back. If |
e evades the trap that is closing on
i'm he will he compelled TO abandon
asst quantities of war material, and
i'll lose many prisoners in making his
;cape, it is believed.
The latest reports last night indicat-
| steady progress was made yeSter-
ny against the reserves hastily as
,mbled by the enemy to meet General I
och's surprise thrust. For the first i
me. the German official statement
ade no claim of having advanced on
lie Marine sector or elsewhere on the
ide line they assailed last Monday. !
he Franco-American thrust has ap. 4,
irently halted that drive.
There is increasing evidences the en- !
'gy of France, Great Britain and the :
nited States is being concentrated !
| getting vast reserves together for
ter blows. The enlarging army plan,
scretary Baker told congress he was
wing worked out, is taking shape. :
is certain extension of the draft [
re limits is to be asked and there g
e indications other steps are in Y
ogress. Military necessity requires Il
Ience now on such of these plans as v
we become known.
The phases of operation on the
estern front not directly connected
It'll the Franco-American attack are 7
tracing wide attention here One v
these is the succession of local rs
ows being delivered by French and j
allan forces along the fronts north Il
ID south of the Marine, where the 0
envy made his only important gains j.
ring the present week. t.