100 years ago the fourth of July news was WWI news

 

July 4, 2018

The original fireworks law for Big Sandy, dated 1919.

The Bear Paw Mountaineer, July 04, 1918; Found by Zoe Merrill: (Although they didn't know it on July 4, 1918, and even thought the whole front page of the Mountaineer was nothing but World War I news, history will tell us that during that month the war took a turn and we started winning the war that month. So, in reading these old news articles we know they were actually reading and celebrating the victorious power of freedom.)

AMERICANS STOP HUNS

With the American Forces on the Marne front, July 2, counter attack made by the Germans today. Against the new positions won last night by American forces to the west of Chateau Thierry was completely broken up. The Americans did not give up a foot of the ground they had captured. There was hot fighting today in front of Hill 204 which is in the hands of the Germans. At 5 o'clock this evening the American artillery was engaged in heavily shelling the position. Reports from the advanced front brought back through a heavy enemy barrage confirmed the earlier statements that the Americans have reached their every objective and are holding every point.

The total number of Germans captured by the Americans is now estimated to number about 500, including several dicers. Many groups of prisoners have been sent to the rear. Others have been located in hospitals where they were taken after being wounded. The German counter-attack, which was fiercely conducted, was launched against the American positions at three o'clock this morning. It resulted in the Americans further increasing the number of prisoners. Virtually the remainder of the enemy attacking force was annihilated.

The attack by the Americans of the Vaux positions was so terrific that they swept right through the enemy lines and had their objective been to continue the advance they could have done so with the greatest ease, as virtually everything before them had been cleared.

So great was the enthusiasm of the men, the officers, in some cases, had to look sharp to keep them from going beyond the set objectives. It is most improbable that the Germans are planning another counter-attack for the coming dark hours, but preparations have been made to meet them.

A volt quantity of material, considering the size of the operation, is being taken to the rear, but probably will not be tabulated for several days. In the fighting, west of Vaux the Americans stormed several enemy nests and killed or captured the occupants, then turned the guns the other way, using them effectively against the enemy rear areas.

AMERICA HAS OVER MILLION MEN

ON FRONT IN FRANCE

Washington. July 2nd

American troops sent overseas numbered 1,019,115 on July 1. This was made known tonight by President Wilson, who gave to the public a letter from Secretary Baker disclosing a record of achievement which the president said must cause universal satisfaction and which will give additional zest to our national celebration of the Fourth of July. The first units-non-combatant- left American shores on May 8, 1917. General Pershing followed 12 days later, and at the end of the month, 1,718 men had started for the battlefields of France.

June saw this number increase by 12,261, and thereafter khaki clad crusaders front the western republic, flowed overseas in a steady stream until upward of 300,000 had departed, then the great German thrust began last March. President Wilson's determination to meet Germany's supreme effort with the utmost of America's available man power to assist the desperately resisting French and British armies is sharply reflected in the movement of troops during the last three months. The March Battlings of 83,811 were increased in April to 117,212.

May saw another 244,345 men embark, and last month 27,372 were sent away, making a total for the three months of 637, 925. This, Secretary Baker said later, put the troop movement six months ahead of the original program. Substantially 30 divisions are now in France ready to meet whatever move the German staff has in preparation. Some of these divisions already have been formed into the first field army under Major General Liggett, others are holding trenches at important points along the battle line while still others have been broken up and brigaded with the French and British troops. And so when the German thrust comes Americans will be called upon to play no small part in meeting it.

Secretary Baker wrote the president that supplies equipment in France for the million men who have gone is shown by the latest reports to not be adequate, and added that the output of our war industries in the country is allowing marked improvement in part, deafly all lines of necessary equipment and supply.

Germans Falling to Allies

Hurling themselves at the top of the salient drivel into the allied lines by the Germans late in May, the Americans and French have won important ground near Chateau Thierry.

The attack was local in character, but its success may prove important in the future operations in that part of the battle front nearest Paris. The assault was aimed at the ham- let of Vaux, which is situated on the north side of the Chateau Thierry Park is a road and on it the northern slopes of Hill 204.

Vaux is about two miles from Chateau Thierry. This was carried by the ruck' of the French and Americans, who also occupied two small patches of woods in the immediate vicinity. The Germans almost immediately began counter-attacks in an attempt to regain the lost positions, but their efforts failed in every instance. In the initial attacks and in the repeated assaults against the new lines held he the allies, the Germans have suffered very heavy losses, at least 500 primal era having been taken by the French and Americans. One entire German regiment is officially reported to have been virtually annihilated in the battle.

A thrilling air battle between nine American airplanes and an equal number of the German machines is reported in the Chateau Thierry sector. At least three German planes were destroyed, while two American active machine gun's failed to return from the encounter.

On June 7th the French reported that they had recaptured Hill 204, a height dominating the city of Chateau Thierry. It appears, however, that the Germans have been holding at least a part of the height, or that they have by attack, which has not been reported, succeeded at occupying the hill once more. The allied attack on the north side will tend to make the enemy's position on the hill less secure and may force the Germans to relocate their line from the Marne northward to Torcy, where the American assaults have been successful In several fights and have won important ground.

British forces northwest of Albert have been forced to fight hard to hold positions they took from the Germans Sunday night. A determined attack by the enemy at that point threatened to wrest the captured ground from the British, but heavy counter attacks flung the fee out of all but one of the trenches he had occupied.

The French front west of the Oise and east of Itheints has been the scene of considerable local fighting In which prisoners have been taken by the allied forces. The French have reoccupied the village of St. Pierre Aigle, southwest of Solssons, which they looted three weeks ago.

The German official statement of operations along the front says allied attacks at various points were re-pulsed. It specifically mentions the attack west of Chateau Thierry as being unsuccessful.

Italian forces which have been gaining important ground on the eastern side of the plateau have suddenly shifted their attack to the Mount Granite region east of the Brenta river. Important Austrian positions have been carried and nearly all prime carriers captured by he Italians. Czech and Slovak troops fighting under the Italian flag have taken part in the fighting the last few days In the mountains.

 
 

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