The Delta independent., 1919-01-03


ing catastrophe, at last agreed upor
n unlfication of command and General
roch' the brilliant French leader. was
plhced IN supreme command of all the
allied armies.
"A rev days after the launching of
this drive, Paris was bombarded by a
mystery" gun which it was known
was at least 60 miles away. On March
~. Good Friday, this long-range gun
made n direct hit on Paris church
ana 70 worshipers were killed.
On April 10. the Germans shifted
their attack and began the second
phase of their offensve-a drive
against the British In Flanders with
the channel ports as the objective.
Here again the British were forced to
give ground. but there was no break
such as occurred earlier on the Somme
front. The British and Portuguese
were swept back along the River Lys
The Germans took the Messines ridge
and threw 125.OOO men against the
British below Ypres. But the Ypres
defenses held firm. and in the west the
Germans failed In their efforts to reach
Hazebrouck. The terrific drive spent
itself and the Germans had failed to
threaten the channel ports seriously.
On April % the British navy execut-
ed one Of the spectacular feats of the
war. blocking the channel of Zee
brugge, German submarine base.
Germans Renew Offensive.
On May - the Germans renewed
the offensive with n powerful attack
between the Aisne and the Mnrne. In
n day they swept over the Chemin-des-
DANES on the heights north of the
Aisne and crossed the river in a rush.
Next they took Soissons and reached
the Vesle. On they went to the Marne.
extending their front ON the river from
thateau-Thierry to Nerncuil, and
threatening Reims In their advance.
The drive was halted with the Ger
mans occupying front 16 miles wide
on the Marine.
In the meantime the Americans had
won attention on May 2s by taking
Canfigny on the Picardy front in a
brilliant attack.
On May 25. German U-boats began
operations OF the coast OF the United
States, sinking II ships.
The German drive for Paris was re-
sumcd but the turning point was |
reached when on June Q and Ameri- |
can marines were thrown across the |
path OF the advancing army at Chateau
Thierry. The Americans not only |
stopped the Germans but drove them
back two miles. capturing several hun
lred prisoners.
In an effort TO unite the Somme sali-
mt with that Of the Marne to provide
, base for another move toward Pnris.
he Germans launched another heavy
attack west of Noyon on June 10. They
made considerable gains on n 2o-miIe
ront hut the drive was halted within
wo days.
Austrian Offensive is Fiasoo.
Attention was transferred from
france 10 Italy when on June IL the
\ustrians opened nm offensive ON the
Italian front from Asiago plateau TO
he sea. The attack proved complete
asco. II was repulsed at all points
nd the Italians pursued the fleeing
Iustrians across the Piave. taking 40
90 prisoners.
The German commanders made one
asst effort to break through to Paris
'hen the crown princes army group
n July 10, the morning after the
'rench national holiday. launched an
ffensive along n front from Chnteau.
'hIcrry to Massigcs, 30 miles east of
.eims
This iifth and last phase of the great
fensive failed most signally. being
topped on the third day. The Ameri
m forces played a big part In this sec.
nd decisive bnttle of the Marne. Eas,
Chateau Thierry the Germans forced
passage across the Marine and the
mcricans who opposed them were
'rced to fall back temporarily. Then
brilliant counter-nttack, the Amer.
ans drove the Germans back across
'c Marine. taking l,3o0 prisoners. in
uding complete brigade stan. II
Allied Offensive Opens.
On July rs General Foch assumed
'e offensive. He struck the crown W
'inces right flank n vital blow and on h
e first duy the French and Americans I
ught their way for six miles nlonr "
e Aisnc. reaching the outskirts of al
,issons. For two weeks the yren, nj
continued On Jul, b'
the Americans met the crack dIvi. 81
Dns OF German guards and defeated I'll
en- in II stubborn battle at Seryy 'e
'issons fell to the French on Angus, d'
nnd by the following day the entir. st
ssons-ReIms salient had been wiped CO
Il.
The Indignation of the British pco "'
E. aroused by the U-boat outtrres tr
rpctrntcd by the Germans. was In III
nsitied enrly In July when news wu> IN
rcived Of the sinking by n submu se
lC Of the hOsnllMl shin llnn.lnXGrA To