The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1919-01-16

was at least SO miles away. On March
%, Good Friday, this long-range gun
made a direct hit on Paris church
and 20 worshipers were killed.
April 6, the first anniversary OF
Americas entrance into the war, found
this country throwing every resource
into the struggle. President Wilson,
in a speech at Baltimore opening the
third Liberty loan drive, announced
that the policy of the United States
would be 'sforce, force to the utmost"
until the enemy cried "enough.' At
the same time the real rush of Ameri-
can troops to France began.
On April 10, the Germans shifted
their attack and began the second
phase of their offensive-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,O00 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.
In the meantime, on April II, Amer
lean troops had engaged in a stiff bat
tie with the Germans north of st. Mi
hiel, meeting an infantry attack with
the bayonet. On April u, picked Ger
man storm troops attacked the Ameri-
cans in the Toul sector and were
whipped in a hand-to-hand engage
ment.
On April % the British navy execut-
ed one of the spectacular feats of the
war, blocking the channel of Zee
brugge, a. German submarine base.
Germans Renew Offensive.
On May % the Germans renewed
the offensive with a powerful attack
between the Aisne and the Marine. In
day they swept over the Chemin-des-
Danes on the heights north of the
Aisne and crossed the river in rush.
Next they took scissors and reached
the Vesle. On they went to the Marine,
extending their front on the river from
Chateau-Thierry to Verneuil, and
| threatening Reims in their advance.
The drive was halted with the Ger
mans occupying front 16 miles wide
on the Marine.
Tn tho meantime tho AmoricanS no n
won attention on May % by taking
Cantigny on the Picardys! front in a
brilliant attack.
On May %, German U-boats began
operations off the coast of the United
States, sinking IL ships.
The German drive for Paris was re-
sumed but the turning" point was
reached when on June 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
dred prisoners. Heavy cOunter-attacks
broke down under the machine gun fire
of the Yanks and the road to Paris was
again blocked The marines suffered
severely in the terrific fighting but
they made Chateau-Thierry name
that will live long in American history.
In an effort to unite the SOmme sail
ent with that of the Marine to provide
a base for another move toward Paris,
the Germans launched another heavy
attack west of NoyOn on June 10. They
made considerable gains on 20-mile
front but the drive was halted within
two days.
On June IL, Washington announced
that the United States was then rep
resented on the battle line by 100000
| men.
Austrian Offensive Is Fiasco.
Attention was transferred from
France to Italy when on June Is the
Austrians opened an offensive on the
italian front from Asiago plateau to
the sea. The attack proved complete
| fiasco. It was repulsed at all points
and the Italians pursued the fleeing
Austrians across the Piave, taking 49,
900 prisoners
last effort to break through to Paris
when the crown princes army group
on July Is, the morning after the
French national holiday, launched an
offensive along front from Chateau
Thierry to Massiges, 80 miles east Of
ReimS.
This fifth and last phase Of the great
offensive failed most signally, being
stopped on the third day. The Ameri-
can forces played big part in this Sec
ond decisive battle of the Marine. East
of Chateau-Thierry the Germans forced
passage across the Marine and the
Americans who opposed them were
forced to fall back temporarily. Then,
in brilliant counter-attack, the Amer
leans drove the Germans back across
the Marne, taking 100 prisoners, in
Guiding a complete brigade staff.
Allied Offensive Opens.
On July 10 General Foch assumed
the offensive. He struck the crown
princes right flank a vital blow and on
the first day the French and Americans
fought their way for six miles along
the Aisne, reaching the outskirts of
scissors. For two weeks the great
counter-offensive continued. On July
! 90 the Americans met the crack divi-
sions of German guards and defeated
them in a stubborn battle at Sergy.
scissors fell to the French on August
2 and by the following day the entire