The Washington herald., 1918-07-17
VIII Determine Objective.

VIII Determine Objective.
TT will require the reports Of to-
right and up to noon tomorrow to JUS
tify q statement a. to whether the
results so far have been dterminative
That is to say. they will probably
enable US to tell whether the first
thrust of the enemy has or has not
succeeded. and likewise whether his
real objective lay In the direction OF
his drive Of yesterday and today.
"It is a matter OF discussion whether
fensive which the German general
staff has in mind. In order that the
public may know as soon as possible
the answers to these great questions.
/ have asked Gen. March to make a
statement tomorrow afternoon on the
basis of the reports received up to
that time. and twice every week there
after until the present drive CONS to
an end.
Situation ssatisfactery.s
'whIle there has been some aenen-
ttration here and there along the line,
and though the enemy has had some
partial success. we nevertheless be-
lieve that the whole situation may o,
regarded as very satisfactory"
Speaking of the showing of the
American troops thus far In what he
described as the greatest battle in
which they have been engaged" the
Secretary continued:
The American troops have given
proof OF their spirit and valor in
their previous contact with the
enemy. notably at cantigny and Sci
cheprey. The conduct of our troops
on the present occasion might be
characterized as one of unsurpassed
valor'
The Secretary indicated that
while many of the American forces
engaged in the present action al
various points along the line were
brigaded with the French. they were
under command Of their own cap
tains, colonels and brigadier gen
erals. The words of praise they re-
ceived. he intimated came from their
immediate corps commanders.
Wonderful Day Here.
1t was a wonderful day in Wash
ington for the wonderful news that
came bounding over the wires. Never
did ii seem, had the sun shown SO
brightly and the American flags on
the great buildings flashed gayIy in
the dazzling light. At the White
House the President, disresarding
utterly the prescribed daily exercise
on the golf links, read closely and
eagerly the press and official cables
that were sent to him. That the
official dispatches closely jaralled
the press news was indicated BY
the following statement issued from
the War Department about noon:
dispatches received from Gen. Per-
shing and Gen. Bliss confirm the press
accounts Of yesterdays fighting.
American troops west of Surmelis
counter attacked. captured prisoners,
established and are holding their ad-
vanced positions. Germany's barrase
was met by counter barrage, which in
many places prevented the advance of
their infantry.
Full reports covering the entire
front, are. Of course, not yet avail
able. The general situation this morn
ing is regarded as satisfactory.
The first day in such a battle is,
Of course. merely general advance
guard action. The great pressure of
reserves and concentrated masse is
still to be looked for"
White House Informed.
Just before the cabinet met, Mai.
Mccain, custodian of the war maps in
the cabinet room, hurried to the White
House with the latest Information the
War Department had received, and,
with these before him, carefully mark
ed out on the mounted charte, with
pins and colored threads the changes
in the line east and west of Rheims.
1t was over these maps that the cabi-
net pored, grouped about the Presi-
dent, whose intimate knowledge of the
strategies of the war game have time
and again amazed the military ex-
perts.
There was little IL any repressed
enthusiasm around the entente en-
bassies. The situation was decrib-
ed without reservation as being en-
tirely satisfactory. Reports receiv-
ed by the military attaches and
members o fths allied war missions
agreed that the enemy have thus
far used in the battle thirty-five
divisions, or approximately one
third of their forces available for
an offensive, the total enemy
strength being entimated at 231 d.
visions. In other words, in the en-
ployment of so large force. say
the allied military 3 here.
Germany could hardls = engaged
in feint. To these experts the ac-
ton has all the aspects Of a major
operation.
And about the allied embassies
naught but praise can be heard re-
garding the valorous part played b.
the American doughboys and gunners
Eagerly do these war-wise cri ics
seize upon American slang IN. ex'
pressing their admiration. To them
the American boys have made good