Evening star. [volume], July 20, 1918, Image 1

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

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Yesterday's Net CrraktioB,'100,317.
; No. 27,115. s
WEATHER.
Fair tonight; tomorrow fair, warmer*
Temperature for twenty-four hours
ending noon today: Highest* 85, at 1:20
p.m. yesterday; lowest, 62. at 7:30 a.m.
today.
Full report on page 10.
Y 20, 1918?SIXTEEN PAGES.
TWO CENTS.
TITANIC STRUGGLE
BELIEVED AT HAND;
GERMANS RALLYING
Zone of lighting in Franco-American
Advance Extends Toward
Chateau Thierry.
ALLIED GAINS LESS SWIFT
IN REGION OF SOISSONS
Hon Line, However, Is Steadily Pounded by Foch's
and Pershing's Forces?Enemy Is
Fighting Desperately.
? While no announcement of the capture of the city of
Soissons has reached the War Department, Secretary
Baker said today that the fall of that city seems to be
indicated by dispatches.
By the Associated Press.
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY ON THE AISNE-MARNE
FRONT, July 20, 8:30 a.m.?The battle zone along the front of
the allied counter attack between the \Aisne and the Marne is
being extended farther south toward Chateau Thierry than the
region previously affected, according to information early this
morning.
The Franco-American forces are continuing the steady
pounding of the northern part of the line near Soissons, although
the movement is lacking the dashing advance which characterized
the first days of the attack.
The attempts of the crown prince's generals to rally their
forces to meet the steady movement of the allies have resulted in
such strengthening of the opposition as "to indicate that the battle
is approaching the point when the armies will soon be locked in a
giant struggle.
Both on the northern end of the line and farther south the
?reinforced Germans are making a desperate effort to hold their
positions.
The weather was clear this morning, and this gave some sat
isfaction to the thousands of men engaged on the allied side.
The indications, however, were that the day would be one of ex
ceptional heat.
?U.S.LadsPress
on Over Corpse
StrewnGround
3y Om Associated Press.
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY BE
TWEEN THE AISNE AND THE
MARNE, Friday, July 19.?American
fftroops participating in the Franco
American advance lat? today of about
.-Ja mile and a quarter on Soissons
fChateau Thierry front went forward
?iagainst strong: machine gun fire over
ground covered with German dead.
From a hill east of Dommieres about
^ix kilometers southeast of Soissons
)?he correspondent Friday* saw the
Americans going into action in the |
^forward movement. The advance was
/?well organized and the system
?worked well from one end of the line
to the other.
Traverse Grain Fields.
Under a barrage Are from 75s and
(>5s American infantry, and machine
gunners advanced through ripening
jgrain fields, trampled by the retreat
ing Germans Thursday, and reached
their objective according to schedule,
Respite the fire of German machine
eruns. The bombardment of the big
^German guns was feeble at this point.
The Americans started from a point
Just west of the Paris-Soissons road
near the shell-shattered village of
*Missy-aux-Bois, advancing nearly a
jcilometer before the Germans began
jfco reply with their big g^uns to the
^American barrage. MIssy-aux-Bois
}ies in a valley, and the Americans
?were advancing upgrade toward the
ieast. A few tanks were here and there
preceding the infantrymen. As the
yLmerlcans progressed the enemy bar
fcrage fire increased.
Trench Tilled With Dead,
The hillsides east of Dommiers, over
-*whtch the Americans advanced, were
Jdotted with dead. The entire region
nvas well within the German lines un
itil after the Franco-American offen
sive of Thursday. One quickly dug
ftrench had been filled with German
?bodies. They were machine grunners
Vvho had been caught by the terrific
Ere of the allied artillery. In many
laces the German dead were in piles,
hile a trench on the crest of a hill
^contained more than 100 bodies.
After intense barrage fire along the
^entire front, from Soissons to Cha
tteau Thierry, the allied advance this
^evening opened exactly at 5:30
^o'clock. As far as the eye could
?each could be seen observation bal
loons, while the sky was specked
"with allied airplanes darting in va
rious directions, many returning
from over the German lines to make
a . quick report on observations and
the result of the fire of the big guns,
the hillside the smoke and dust
up by the allied sheila could
(Continued on Second PageJ
Big Onslaught
By Allies in
Fall Forecast
Significant as Is the present drive, in
that it gives the allies the initiative
on the western front and betokens a
supply of man power adequate for of
fensive operations, War Department
officials expect the great counter at
tack will be launched by Gen. Foch
later this year. '
Gen. March, chief of staff, disclosed
this expectation to members of the
House military committee yesterday,
when he also informed them of the
employment of possibly eight divis
ions in the present battle, as stated in
The Star yesterday.
As yet the attack on the Alsne
Marne line is regarded as a minor
operation in comparison to the coun
ter offensive - which is expected later'.
Earlier expectation, before the pres
ent high rate of American 'troop
movements was established, was that
the fighting tbis year might be main
ly defensive and the counter drive
ftelayed until spring.
17,000 Foe Prisoners.
Paris official reports stated that
17,000 prisoners and 3<0 guns had
been captured. Berlin admitted French
advances, but Ignored American par
ticipation and claimed 20,000 prison
ers taken by Germans in their effort
of Monday, frustrated by the vigor
ous resistance and upset completely
by the counter attack.
It is evident that the enemy com
manders are determined to oonceal
from the German people the heavy
and effective participation of Ameri
can troops.
Secretary Baker's Statement.
Secretary Baker last evening Issued
this statement:
"The attention of the world Is, of
course, focused on the tremendous
counter blow being delivered by
Gen. Foch. Gradual extention of
these operations to the east is
indicated In the press dispatches,
but as yet is not officially con
firmed. The gain on the front of
the original counter thrust has been
deepened, narrowing the salient, and
makinglthe position of its German
occupants less and less tenable.
"We hive no report of the capture
of Soissons, but the battle has been
raging at that part of the front, and
the fall of Soissons seemed to be in
dicated by the progress made at the
time of latest official dispatch.
Significance of -ICovement.
"The significance of this movement
lies In the fast that the
piyp)
I Average Penetration of
Countep-Attack Is 7 Miles
on 22-Mile Front.
]' MORE THAN 1,200,000
U. S. TROOPS NOW OVER
Eailway Prom Soiisons, Main Sip
ply Artery to German*, Is Allied
Objective, Gen. March Sayi.
Official report* to the War Depart
ment, Gen. March told newspaper men
today at the weekly conterence,
showed a maximum penetration by
the Franco-American counter attack
of ten miles and an average penetra
tion on a twenty-two-mile front of
sftven miles.
During: his Interview Gen. March
disclosed the fact that the embarka
tion of American troops has passed
the 1,200.000 mark.
American Divisions Naifted.
The attack still is being pressed, he
said, against heavy German reserves.
The American troops engaged on this
front are the 1st, 2d. Sd and 4th Regu
lar divisions, and the 26th (New Eng
land) and 28th (Pennsylvania) Na
tional Guard. The ?2d National
Guard (Rainbow Division) Is sta
tioned >n the Champagne region. An
unattached regiment of colored troops
from the S3d National Army Division
is in each sector.
Official advices confirm the press
report that a French corps, in which
American divisions were operating,
had captured 17,000 prisoners and
guns and material "In very helpful
amounts."
The War Department has .no ad
vices that the city of Soissons has
fallen, but it Is known to be under a
heavy Are from American artillery
and its fall seems Imminent, Gen. March
said.
Objective Is Supply Bailroad.
He added that the objective of the
Franco-American counter attack was
the Soissons-Chateau . Thierry rail
road, which, the allied command has
reason to believe, Is the Pri?clP?'
artery of supply for the enemy in the
Chateau Thierry region, and also one
of the principal sources for the sector
south of the Marne.
May Cut Oft Betreat. %
I The French and American forces
1 nithpr are already on this road or
I have It well under direct ahellflre of
thTheachiafT'f staff pointed out that
! wiTh this railroft^l in allied .control
1 the German withdrawal from the sec
* tor south of the Marne would be ren
dered difficult and their
line to the rear would be lost.
indicated thai an attempt to with
draw la anticipated.
Nut Cracker Operation, Aim.
The latest German drive was tn
?.n<w as a "nut cracker operation"
against the city of Rhelms, Gen.
ukrch said. This drive had been defi
nitely stopped when Gen. Foch struck
Sn th* right flank of the German ef
fort after the enemy had advanced
four to five miles on a twenty-three
"in response to questions Gen. March
said the Illinois National QUMJ^lvj*
sion, commanded by MaJ. Gen. George
t>pii jr was in the English training
s<fctor. A unit of this division last
week co-operated with the Austra
lians in a successful advance already
r*Th?stx American divisions operat
ing on the Aisne-Marne front are
operating as divisions and not as a
corps Gen. March said. Their loca
tion from day to day depends upon
the developments In the battle.
The 77th National Army Division,
composed largely of New Jersey
troops, but including New York and
Delaware men, is In line near I>une
yille. It is operating as a division un- ,
der its own commander.
No report on casualties among the
Americans engaged has reached* the
War Department.
200,000 American Troops
Are Fighting With the French,
Gen. March Tells Senators
Blx of Geo. Pershing's divisions, or
(about 200.000 American troops, are
fighting wtth' the French la the pres
ent offensive in the Alsna-Marne dis
trict, Gen. March, chief of staff, to
day advised members of the Senate
military committee at their weekly:
conference.
eh, Franoo-American offensive will
cont?nuTa? lone as it is possible to
force the Germans back. Gen. March
stated.
British Await Attack.
Gen. March told the Benators also
that the Germans had been preparing
for an offensive against the British
to the north on the western battle*
front to be simultaneous with their
last offensive against the Franco
AFor'some'reason, Gen. March stated,
the drive against the British was
nnatnoned. That is the probable ex
SSSSSr 'tor the British pol
?c^f not"attacking the Germana
while the French and Americans are
Inraeed in their offensive.
Affiled military opinion. Gen. March
said, is unanimous that the German
offensive movement ha? been com
PlComTplSw^Usfaceonwith thepre?
i ant situation and the progress of the
(Continued on Eleventh Page.)
NOWJAYS CECIL
Only Force in Russia Organ
ized for Order Is Called
Miracle.
NATION FACES WINTER
FRAUGHT WITH TRAGEDY
| Prediction It Made That 20,000,
000 Will Periih if Succor
la Delayed.
By the Associated Pre*.
LONDON. July 20.?Lord Robert
Cecil, who has Just left the post of
minister of blockade to become as
sistant secretary of state for foreign
affairs, in% an interview with the As
sociated Press last night urged the
necessity of the entente allies send-'
ingr immediate help to the Czecho
slovak forces along the Trans
sibertaa railroad.
The presence of a Csecho-Slovak
army in Russia at this time is, I be
lieve, one of the miracles of history,"
Lord Robert declared. **We have
beheld one of the greatest empires of
the world plunged into'such an ap
palling state of disorganisation that
nothing like it is known in modern
history?a situation so unprecedented
that the world seemed merely to stand
aghast, hopeless. ? ^
Only Force Organized for Order
"Then suddenly we find this Csecho
Slovak army, well drilled, carefully
i organised and ably led; we suddenly
find this army stretched across the
backbone of the Russian empire over
a line nearly 6,000 miles Jong. It Is
the vonly organized force we know of
in the whole of Russia today making
for even the elementary principles of
order and civilization. If the allies
allow It to be wiped out for want of
ammunition, food or moral support
I there is absolutely no leaven left to
I leaven the lump, and small hope re
mains of preventing the Russian peo
i pie from being overwhelmed by a
terrible series of economic disasters
during the coming winter.
| 4*I have recently heard men who I
knew Russia well speak of what is
likely to happen there during the
(Continued on Second Page.)
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Write advertleemente plainly,
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LIEUT. ROOSEVELT'S i
DEATraFKD
German Airmen Drop Note
Into American Camp Tell
ing of His Fate.
TWO BROTHERS INJURED
Lieut. Quentld Roosevelt, whose
death while flying ma an .aviator in
the American ranks Is confirmed from
German sources, was the youngetft son
of the former President. Ha disap
peared last Sunday morning during a
combat between American and German
machines ten miles Inside the enemy
lines In the flhitean Thierry sector.
Two Machines Hade Attack.
"Two mschlns attacked Lieut. Roose
velt and one of tte machines was seen
to tumble to the ground. Search for
him after the battle revealed no traces,
and it waa evident that Lieut. Koose
ven's' machine had gone down. One
report was that the machine caught
Ore. while another account said that
it was not in flames when it was seen
to fall.
Lack of official confirmation of. the
lieutenant's death prompted some
hope that he might have been made a
prisoner. A cablegram received by
Col. Roosevelt Friday from relatives
in Parle said that Qiien tin's plane
meters and was seen to
strike the ground, it was not in
(Contlnued-'on Sdbond Page.) "
Doubt Exists as to pause of
Yesterday's Disaster Off
Long Island.
LOSS OF LIFE SMALL, ?
BUT NOT YET KNOWN
Only Exiiting Hotter Boll How on
Way From Portsmouth, BT. BL;
Probably 1,250 Aboard.
Capt. H. H. Christy, commander of
the armored cruiser San Dleso. which
was sank yesterday off Long Island,
today reported to the Nary Depart
ment his belief that the ship was tor
pedoed.
The cause of the sinking of the Tea
sel. however, remained In doubt, and
officials at the Navy Department de
clined to sijji ess aa opinion, pending
the receipt of more details and fur
ther Investigation.
Some officials an Incline^ to dis
count the theory of the U-boat attack,
because of the quick sinking of the
vessel?In about fifteen minutes?and
the small loss of life. If a torpedo
struck her the case is unusual. It was
pointed out. In that a torpedo should
hit a vulnerable spot, and yet, so far
as now .Is known, not entail any con
siderable loss of life.
2To Wake or Periscope.
Tben again Capt. Christy stated he
saw no evidence of a submarine, and
three vessels In the Immediate vicin
ity were not attacked. No wake or
periscope was seen.
Against the mine theory Is the fact
that the blow came from the port
side, abaft the beam. Usually the
bow of a ship would explode a mine,
though there is a possibility that it
may have been washed aside, only* to
rebound -upon the side of the' ship.
The Navy Department has satisfac
tory evldenoe that the ahip could not
have struck an American mine.
The vessel was moving at about
fifteen miles when struck. She was
not in a course where German sub
marines are likely to have planted a
mine if they .-ought to endanger the
frequented lanes of ocean travel.
There was no disorder. Every man
took his place, the oaptaln said, and
performed calmly aa If In aa ordinary
drill.
The number on board the Tsassl la
a matter of estimate as yet. There are
believed to have been about 1,150 man.
Of these 1,166 survivors have been re
ported en route to port In two vessels,
and landing of thirty-one survivors
previously had been reported.
Xuster Soli, on Way Here.
The muster foil on the ship went
down with her. The only other one
was left at Portsmouth, N, EL. and
now Is on Its way to Washington.
Not until It arriVea here Will a com
plete checking up of the men on
board with the survivors be possible.
The survivors are being Utken
aboard the U. 8. 8. Maul, at New York,
and provided with fresh clothing,
food amL given other needful atten
tion.
The possibility of an internal ex
plosion Is considered to be slight.
Had there been such an explosion the
officers would have been in a position
to know of it before the vessel sank
and there probably would have been
a -much larger loss of life than now
is indicated. Neither Was there any
thing on board the ship at ths pilnt
of the trouble to explode.
It was reiterated today that ths
military losa in the sinking of the
San Diego was slight The cruiser
was a comparatively eld type. It was
- (Continued on Second Page.)
DRIVE BOCHE BACK
ON SOUTHERN BANK
OF THE RIVER MARNE
French and American Forces May
Soon Gear Territory Recently
Gained by Enemy.
NEW SUCCESS IS SCORED
BETWEEN FOSSOY AND OEUILLY
British Suddenly Attack in Flanders, Ad
vancing Their Lines Over Front 2/4 Miles.
Also Gain Near Hebuturne.
Bj the Associated Press. <
LONDON, July 20.?French troops on the Soissons
front have extended their advance from Monte de Paris,
southwest of the city of Belleu, a town southeast of Sois
sons.
The number of German prisoners taken in the Franco
American offensive now has reacher 18,800.
LONDON, July 20.?The French advanced on an
average of one mile on a twenty-mile froqt between noon
a yesterday and 9 o'clock last night.
*T ^WTTHTHE FRENCH ARMIES IN FRANCE, July
so, ii a.m.?Entente allied troops today are driving back
the Germans on the southern bank of the River Marne
and are now approaching the river embankments.
By the Associated Press.
Over the great part of the line" between the Aisne and the
Marne the French and Americans are still pushing eastward.
Their most pronounced new progress appears to have been chiefly
on the more southerly part of the line, the dash in the northern
sector having apparently slowed up soijiewhat.
The allied forces control the plateaux to the southwest of
Soissons. i
Further south the allied advance has established itself at the
village of Vierzy, has passed the Mauloy wood, east of Villers
Helon, and has driven to the towns of Neuilly-St. Front and Licy
Clignon. The capture of Neuilly-St. Front, one of the most im
portant towns in the field of the advance south of the Ourcq, was
officially announced this morning.
South of the Marne there has been a tigfitening of the defen
sive arc along the fourteen-and-one-half-mile line between Fossoy
aq,d Oeuilly, where the Germans are fighting with the river at
their backs. Attacks by the French last night caused the Ger
mans to fall' back still farther along this line/
In a sudden attack in the Bailleul sector, on the northern side
of the Lys salient in Flanders, the British have advanced their
lines over a.front of two and a quarter miles and swept the Ger
mans from the village of Meteren, the scene of stubbarn fighting
during the days of the German offensive in Flanders early in
April. Farther south, on the front between Albert and Arras,
the British have advanced their line over a mile front, their at
tack taking place south of Hebuturne. This operation should
relocate the British front very near the town of Serres.
Americana in Fighting.
During the fighting: early this week
American troops retook Fossoy and
were mentioned as being engaged in
the battle along the heights east of
that place. They are, therefore, prob
ably engaged in the advance official
rather a methodical push all along
the western side of the Soissons
Chajeau Thierry-Rheims salient.
As such it must still be considered
a defensive action that is going on.
Its character may change to an of
fensive stroke at any time, but noth
ing so far officially reported would
indicate that Gen. Mangin's advanc
1y reported today from Paris. Oeuil- {"> officially reported, may be decided
ly marks the approximate point wbere r ' ga can
the German lines cross the Marne and
turn northeast over the rolling hills
toward Rhelms.
Pursuing the policy of conservatism,
the French war office makes no- ex
treme claims of victory along the
Alsne-Marne front. The front, as de
lineated In official reports, leaves the
Cllgnon river near Torcy. runs north
through liicy-Clignon ?ni Neuilly-St.
Front, turns slightly to the east .to
Mauley wood, thence north to Vierzy
and up over the higher ground to the
hills southwest of Soissons.
There have been reports of allied
forces being far to the east of this
line, but they have not been officially
confirmed. It seems probable that the
German tenure of Soissons has been
greatly weakened and It is quite pos
sible that-some allied forces are far
ther east than the positions Indicated
In the official reports.
Beaolti of Drive.
The actual results officially an
nounced as achieved, however, with
Important territory taken and more
than 17,000 prisoners u<vtn guns
captured, constitute in themselves a
decidedly brilliant success for the
Franco-American drive to date.
In the Alsne-Marne drive there ap
pears to he an effort, which Is seem
ingly suoceedlng, to straighten the
front all the way north from the
Clignoa river, about flte miles north
west of Chateau Thierry. The move
ment does not at present appear to
be a great encircling operation. tt Jj
Advance South of Kerne.
The advance of the allies south of
the Harne. from Fossoy to Oeuilly,
seeks to do more than relieve the
pressure against Rhelms.
The German front is here so extend
ed that it Is not Improbable that the
enemy has begun a retirement from
the perilous position Into which he
had advanced Monday and Tuesday,
It has been pointed out that the situa
tion of the Germans from Chateau
Thierry eastward to the point where
their line crosses the Marne is dan
gerous In the extreme If the allied ef
fort on the front north of Chateaa
Thierry makes further progress.
It the Germans are really retreating
from across the Marne. the situation Is
very similar to that which ensued
when the Austrian advance across the
Plave was Recked and the retrograde
movement began. w
Along the line from the Marne to
Rhelms and east of the cathedral city
Into the Champagne region the battle
has seemingly died down, aa no reports
of fighting come from those sectors.
Advance StUl Goes On.
By the Associated Press.
PARIS, July 20.?-French and Ameri
can troops are continuing their ad
vance between the Aisne and the
Marne. according to an official state
ment Issued bythe war office today.
South of the Marne the French have
thrown back the enemy between Foe
soy and Oeuilly and haft retaken
ground toward the Mania.
The allied advance haa reached Ike
JContini^ad ob Eighth Page.)
v- - - v? ? - ' ? ??? .