Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1918-06-12
THE BLOODIEST FIGHTING
OF THE WHOLE WAR
Now in Progress Attack Again, Gaining Ground
at Heavy Cos-700,000 American Troops Now in
Europe-Gcrmans Advance on 2O-Anle Front-Sopped
by French, Who Have Lost Many in Prisoners.
Germans Attacking Again.

/
Crown Prince Rupprecht Of Bavaria
| again are hitting the allies in a new
| offensive, with Paris apparently their
objective.
Between Montdidier and Noyon,
over front Of about 20 miles, pre-
| ceded as usual by a heavy lombard
| ment with shells Of all calibers and
with noxious gases, the enemy's ini-
tial manoeuvre evidently has in view
the bending back of the allied front
toward the town of st. Just, on the
| northern wing, and toward the rail-
| road junction Of Compiegne on the
southern flank, getting astride the
Ofse river and driving southwest to-
ward the French capital.
The French troops. are resisting the
impact with their usual valor, butt
Germans on their right and in the
center have been able to penetrate
the line for distances ranging from
two-thirds of mile south Of Mont
| didier to relatively two and a half
miles at Ressons-Sur-Matz, in the
| center. Thence to Noyon, however,
the allied line Is holding strongly.
The allied commanders, 1t is as
serted, were not taken unaware by
the new offensive. On the other
| hand, they had anticipated, since the
failure OF the army Of the German
crown prince to gain It's objectfves
between Soissons and the Marne and
thence on the southern part Of the
line running to Rheims; that the
German high command would decree
another manoeuvre to the north and
preparations accordingly we're made
| to withstand the shock.
Comparative quiet prevails in the
region Of the Marne, and on that por-
t1on of the line in Flanders held by
the British there have been no occur
| rences of interest, according to Field
Marshal Haig's latest communication
The only attack reported in the,
French official communication in the
region Of Rheims was delivered by
the Germans, who suffered serious
losses, but gained no ground
Attacks Not Extended.
Paris, June 9.-The official an
nouncement to-day that another
phase of the German offensive was
opened this morning between Mont
didier and Noyon was Interpreted by
the public as having a hopeful aspect.
The point was made that the latest
attack is on front of only Is to 18
miles. compared with front Of SO
-N'AANo 'Sir IhO III ollClSlFS IuIS yt1dT,
on March FL, and Of rs miles for the
attack along the Aisne on May 27.
This Is regarded as an indication of
dimfnution Of the power of the at
tacking masses.
Fighting Unusually Severe.
With the French Army in France,
June 0.-Fighting in this war prob
ably never has been more severe than
that going on to-day in the great bat
tie of French and German armies be-
tween Montdidier and Noyon.
The Germans attacking on
ground where the entente allies were
ready to receive the shock have
found themselves thrown into
slaughter house whence most of them
Will make an exit.
When the German infantry began
coming over in the denscst masses
they encountered Immediately an ex-
tremely hot fire from both machine
guns and artillery, which moved
them down. Ever since, as fresh
waves entered the conflict, they were
subjected to similar punishment.
the German progress must not be
taken to mean that the German
forces have overcome the defenders
who Intended from the beginning to
retreat to the actual line Of combat |
as soon as the action developed,
Some Idea Of the determined ma
ture OF the fighting may be gathered |
from the struggle on each wing. The |
village of Courcelles changed hands |
numerous times and when this dis
patch was sent, it was in the posses- |
sion Of the allies. At the other end
of the line Mont Renaud was still
making a magnificent defense, and |
last reports showed that Leplemont
was yet in allied hands.
Ihe center about Ressons-Sur-
MATT, where the Germans made their
most obstinate effort and formed
pocket tending southeastward, is the
only part of the line against which
the Germans have been able to report
real gain. Their intention Is to try
to reach the banks OF the Oise and
threaten the allied salient which ex-
tends to the vicinity OF Noyon.
me Germans knew when they
opened the attack that their task
would be difficult. Therefore, they
sent into the fray only chosen divis-
ions, which had been specially train
ed for the assault. 1t is estimated
that they engaged approximately 20
divisions on the front line for the
first shock, while behind these. ready
to take the place OF the exhausted
divisions, there probably were SIM
iiar number, perhaps even greater.
Germans Gained Some Advantage.
Paris, June lot was a per-
fectly satisfactory day." said Pre-
mier Clemenceau last night In these