Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-05

He at once got himself evacuated.
FASTENED to the nearest aviation camp
and went up in a combat plane. His
pilot was wounded and his machine
brought down between the infantry
lines. The observer. however, managed
to bring his comrade into safety.
At the beginning of March gave a
full account of the last capture of the
ruined Fort La Pompele. four miles
southeast of Rheims. by German storm
troops and its recovery a few hours
liter. The double feat was repeated on
Saturday. when the victory Of our Allies
was marked by the capture of four tanks
and 300 prisoners. LA Pompelle is IA
useful though not essential observatory
for what may be called the Bay of
Rheims and strong hill post beyond
the sWampy course of the Nesle. It does
not seem very likely that the Crown
Prince will be allowed to extend his
critical adventure further east, and this
attack was probably meant chiefly TO,
pin down French troops in the sector
British still Hold Tardenois
British troops still hold Nille-en-
Tardenois and the greater part of the
road from Rheims to the Marine, The
divisions. after their severe trial are
cheerful and ready TO give the boche
deed. is of the best.
As further details which | have re-
Ceived of their part in the beginning of
the battle clearly show these divisions.
the Flftieth Eighth Twentytirst and
Twenty-fifth. were. it will be remem-
bered. tired from bitter and repeated
actions in the course of the northern
offensive. They had been on the front
only seventeen days when last Mondays
attack was made. and therefore had
hardly had dime to become thoroughly
acquainted with the sector. The main
force Of the enemy assault fell on the
front of the F'iftieth and Eighth Divi-
sions against whom there were four
German divisions in line and two more
in immediate reserve. The odds against
the British on this day were two and
half TO one.
The Fiftieth Division on the left was
doing we'll on the Craonne plateau,
when. in the course of the morning,
they suddenly found that the enemy was
behind them. Owing to this surprise
the neighboring brigade OF the tlftleth
Division suffered badly.
BY afternoon General Fritz Won Be
lows men had got to the line Of the
river and in the evening the British
were back at GurenCourt BY Wednes-
day evening they held a large crescent
around Fismes from Lopeigne on the
west through Couanges and Lagery
back to the Nesle at Muizon, BY this
time the fighting strength of the British
units was greatly reduced but re-en-
forCement@ were coming up and the
worst of the crisis was oVe:. The full
story Of the splendid episode could
hardly yet be told. but some day it will
shine among the greatest achievements
of the war.
went down to the Marne valley. and
from the edge of the wooded hill looked
across over part of the north bank,
where the Germans are established. Es-
tablished is hardly the word. for every
thing is floating and provisional in this
phase of the war, and it is more than
ever invisible. except wnere infantry
actions are in course. because there are
no fixed intrenChed lines. ! could not
find any trace of the enemy on the oppo-
site amphitheatre of hills. but an OBJ
server hanging above at the tail of
sausage balloon may have seen some
thing. From time to time the French
guns blaZed angrilY over my head and
buildings were on fire in the villages.
In this winding stretch of the valleys
crests rise 500 feet above the broad
strong stream. and there are five or six
miles between the two ridges. The
French have guns and machine guns in
position, and any considerable attempt
to cross will be very costly.