Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 66, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 March 1918 — TUETON DRIVE IS WEAKENED [ARTICLE]

TUETON DRIVE IS WEAKENED

HOUR IS CLOSE AT HAND FOR ALLIES TO LAUNCH COUNTER ATTACK. After six days of fighting, the German offensive in France is beginning to show signs of losing its momentum, The progress of the enemy materially slackened and the form of the dent made in the allied line west of Cambria has begun to resemble the familiar wedge like salient instead of the broad straighforward movement of an offensive which carries -all before it. At its apex this wedge has gone beyond Albert to the south of that place and is to the westward of the old allied line as it stood a year ago when Von Hindenburg began his “strategic retreat.” From this point the line runs off to the northwest at a gentle angle with the line to the south running back until it reaches the Oise river. In spite of tremendous exertions and terrible losses, the German effort to widen the tip of this salient were defeated on Tuesday. The British lines have stood firm to the north and have forced the Germans to turn southward toward the point of least resistance.

Official statements issued at London confirm the report from Berlin that American forces are engaged in the struggle. They are reported as fighting “shoulder to shoulder” with the French and British in the region of Roye, on the southern side of the salient driven into the allied front. There has been no official report sent to .Washington as to the identity of these troops who are taking part in this greatest battle in history. With the slackening of the German pace there come indications that the allies are ready to strike back somewhere along the front. Just where this blow will be launched will not be known until it is struck, but it may be expected that its impact will be terrific. It is known that the allied war council at Versailles created a great strategic reserve of men to be used in just the emergency which confronts the armies which have borne the brunt of the fighting since last Thursday morning. This force probably will be launched when and where it is believed it will break the force of the German onslaught and send the enemy reeling back over the desert from which the British have slowly withdrawn.

and they fit fine. The sweater and naper® were received yesterday. That was the first newspaper I had received from home. The sleeping bag I received about two months ago is surely wonderful. You surely are not getting my letters, for I have told you three times that I have received the bag. I received a letter from Rensselaer asking me if I was’dead. The party had heard that I had been killed; Well, if I have. I am a pretty live “dead one.” I have thought I was a good many times, but didn’t quite make it. I want to see the Kaiser ‘!tu-a,” or “a La. Mort.” Received the gloves, stationery, pictures, cookies, nuts, > tobacco, candy, soap, fruit, cakes and almonds: Many thanks to all. I put in my application for SIO,OOO army insurance on the last day. As yet J have not heard from it. . I lost my fountain pen and am using a borrowed one. It is impossible to get a decent one here. If you will send me one I will thank you for it. “That’s a good one.” A package of cookies, two or three times a month would also be very acceptable. They are great stuff to take out to the post jn the car. We quite often miss our meals out there. Sam is still with me. We are feeling fine and now consider ourselves professional bullet dodgers. Sam is second mechanic of this section. We got ten more men in the section before the attack. I guess they thought some of us were going to get “winged,” hut we fooled them. We have thirty-six good men now. I will close, hoping this finds you all well. Your loving son, VERNE.