MARNE ATTACK BROKEN DOWN

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 16, 18 July 1918, Page 7

MARNE ATTACK BROKEN DOWN

SUCCESS OF AMERICAN DEFENCE

(REUTERS • TELEGRAM.)

1 - LONDON, 16th July. Reuters correspondent at American Headquarters, in- a despatch dated Monday evening, says : ."The Americans on the river bend now command the river front, so the German plan here has been completely upset. A famous German division on the left of the bend attempted all day to cross. All; the assaults withered under our fire, and not a single' German crossed. The prisoners taken in the American counter-attack number -between one thousand and fifteen hundred, including a complete brigade staff. The Germans retired hesitatingly at first, but soon many of them broke and ran. Within three hours the enemy had been driven back from the river. The American machine-gunners contributed most effectively to the defeat of the enemy's plans." The correspondent, writing on Tuesday, reports : "The whole battlefield indicates that, except in a few minor localities, the German offensive so far has been a complete failure. '■ New prisoners say that they are convinced that they are beaten. An enemy carrier pigeon captured east of Chateau Thierry carried a message saying : "The situation is serious. There is no chance of making further progress in this locality." East of Reims early this morning we were not on!}' holding up the enemy's attempts to advance, but appear to have broken their spirit. A.t one place here our counter-attack drove the enemy from a salient in the region of Fossoy. We improved our positions at night and drove the enemy across the river, taking prisoners."