The Great War: July 16, 1918

The banner headline of the Columbia Republican for July 16, 1918, proclaimed: "AMERICANS SMASH THRU GERMAN DRIVE." The subhead elaborates: "After Enemy Had Crossed the Marne River at Chateau-Thierry, the Americans Drove Them Back in Counter-Attacks, Captured 1,600 Prisoners, Cut Off Their Retreat and All Germans on the South Bank of the River Are in Danger of Capture."

Elsewhere on the front page it is reported that "Seventy-Five Boys Left Monday," and at the bottom of the page, there's a picture of those seventy-five "boys," posing on the steps of the Columbia County courthouse.

The second page of the newspaper--the editorial page--also has an item worth sharing: a comment about the seventy-five young men from Columbia County who left the previous day, on their way to war.

COPYRIGHT 2018 CAROLE OSTERINK