The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-07-18

The situation on TINS front presents
interesting points. The battle line where
The German offensive paused at the
Marne early in June, closely resembled
the letter v, with the acute angle blunt
ed Since their attack on Monday morn
ing the Germans have made progress
which has changed the form of the line
to that Of the letter U, the right leg of
which is shorter than the left.
From Fontenoy, at the tip of the left
leg, to Rheims, on the end of the right,
is about 81 miles, The distance from the
Aisne to the present battle front south
of the Marine is about % miles.
1t is along the left leg of the U that
the allied onslaught began this morning.
Behind the allied lines is the forest of
Villers-C Cotterets, with a network of
strategic wagon roads and three railway
lines. In front of them there is an inn
portant railroad line running southwark
from Scissors to Chateau Thierry, pre-
sumably used as q supply artery for a
large portion of the enemy troops along
the Marne river. This railway was about
four miles from the allied front when
the attack was started to-day.
If the attack of the allies is what it
appears to be, it is serious threat to
The whole German position south ofRthe
Aisne Rapid progress by the allies to
the eastward would compel the abandon
ment of the German offensive which is
now apparently directed toward Eper-
nay, to the south of Rheims mountain.
1t might, if successful, even bring about
a German retirement from the whole
scissors Marne- Rheims salient, with po-
tential disastrous results to the enemy
in the loss of men, guns and material,
During the past three weeks the
French have carried out number of
local operations southwest OF Scissors,
along the line where the present allied
tions, the French line from the region of
Ambleny, south of Fontenoy, to Long
pont, nearly eight miles further south,
was advanced and Strengthened. Before
today's attack began the French held
positions along series of ridges on a
five mile line from Ambleny to St Pierre
Aigle, and were in strong entrenchments
further south.
The part American troops are taking
in the allied counter blow is as yet un-
known. The line mentioned in the Off
cial statement from Paris, however, in
cludes a section of the positions held by
the Americans in the neighborhood of
Chateau Thierry General Pershing's
men are known to be at Belleau and
they have been mentioned as being as
far north as Torcy, on the south side of
the Clignon river, above Belleau wood.
Measuring from the Aisne river,
around the Chateau Thierry salient and
thence to Massiges, in the Champagne,
the eastern limits of the present struggle,
the length of the battle line is about los
miles which is the widest front that has
been in active battle on the western
front since the early days Of the war.
Official reports appeared to show the
German stroke against the Marne-
Rheims Champagne line has not gained
further ground over night. At Nanteuil.
La-Fosse, the region southwest of
Rheims, heavy German attack was
crushed, while an assault by guard regi.
ments north of Pr0snes, east of Rheims
was broken. by the allies.
According to unofficial reports to-day
the Germans have made some slight
progress south Of the Marne, in the re.
gion north of st. Agnan, to the south
west of Dormans, but this advantage was
apparently only local. What appears to
be more important local success by the
French is reported from the easternmost
point of the front south of the Marne
The French are said to have recaptured
Montvoisin, Chene La Refine, and impor.
tant heights in the vicinity of these vii
lagos commanding the river Marne
Italian troops fighting in the area be-
tween the Marne and Rheims are said To