Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-05-30
SOISSONS FALLS
AND RHEIMS IS
NEAR CAPTURE
French Have Hopes of Check
ing the German Advance
Within Few Days
RESERVES BROUGHT UP
American Hospitals Far Be-
hind Line Are Bombed by
Barbarian Airmen
BY Associated Press

Sweeping onward in dense masses
the Germans have advanced fifteen
miles in the center of the line be-
tween scissors and Rheims. On the
allied left scissors has fallen while
Rheims, on the right, is in grave
danger, the F'ranco-British troops
having retired to within less than
two miles of the famous city.
Desperate as has been the resist
ance of the French and British, es-
pecially the French on the left, and
the heavy losses suffered by the
enemy, the German advance has not
been halted greatly. Unofficial re-
ports of the allied reserves being
hurried up are not confirmed Of
ficially and there is no sign of their
presence in the line. Despite their
forced retirement the allied troops
have held together remarkably we'll
while contesting every foot of the
way.
Scissors Falls
scissors fell to the Germans after
fierce fight in the streets of the
city for several hours and the French
were last reported holding tenacious
ly to the western suburbs. The enemy
advance to scissors has not yet af-
fected greatly the French line east
ward from Montdidier which the
Germans apparently hope to bend
back by their success on the Aisne.
The curve in the battleline northwest
of Rheims has been wiped out and
from scissors eastward the line runs
southeast and then east into the
Champagne.
In the center of the 45-mile front
where the German progress has been
greatest, the enemy forces are now
near Loupeigne four miles north of
the river Ouroq and IL miles north
of the Marne. The fighting is almost
entirely on territory untouched by
the war since 1914. Berlin, in its
latest report claims the number of
prisoners has increased to $4,000.
Enemy Uses Many Reserves
Apparently the Germans have used
a large part of their reserves in the
offensive across the Aisne as they
have not taken advantage of the
movement here to strike elsewhere
on the northern front as might have
been expected. The course of the
lighting Wednesday indicates the
possibility that the German crown
prince will try to strike westward
along the Aisne. instead of attempt
ing to force his way nearer the
Marne.
Except for some sharp fighting at
Cantigny where the Americans have
repulsed German counterattacks
against their new positions, there has
been little fighting on the line north
from scissors. A local German at
tack against the French north of
Mont KENNEL on the Lys battlefield.
was repulsed completely.
Bomb U. S. Hospital
Three counterattacks were made
by the Germans against the Ameri-
can positions at Cantigny. General
PershingS men, however, maintain
ed their line unbroken and threw
back the enemy with strong artillery
and infantry fire, infiicting severe
casualties on the attackers. Berlin,
which delights in officially announc-
ing the capture of American prison.
ers, does not give the Americans
credit for the success at Cantigny,
but says "the enemy" carried out a
local advance.
Hospitals far behind the American
sector in Picardy have been bombed
by German airmen. Scores of Amer,-
cans were in danger but only a few
were injured by flying glass. Several
civilians and a French nurse were
killed.
YanlzS Fight in Masks
Fighting in gas masks the Ameri-
can troops east of Luneville have
checked a German attack under
cover of gas waves. The Germans re-
treated under heavy fire from
American machine guns, suffering Sc
verely. At one point fourteen Ger
mans penetrated the American
trenches. Nine were killed. one died
of wounds and four are prisoners.
The Germans apparently are pre-
pairing for another attack against
the American sector northwest of
Toul. The enemy artillery fire has
increased considerably and German
airmen are very active. On the other
hand, the American gunners are
more than answering the enemy fire
and the American aviators are keep
ing the German machines on their
own side of the line.