The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-06-11

FIGHTING lNEVER ~
I WAS MORE SEVERE
Correspondent with the French Army
Says Germans Have Made Little
Progress in Spite Of Great Sacrifice
Battalions Depleted,

WITH THE FRENCH ARMY IN
FRANCE, Monday, by The Associated
Press Fighting in tlissswar probably
never has been more severe than that
going on today if the great battle of
French and German armies between
Montdidier and Noyon. The Germans,
attacking on ground where the entente
allies were ready to receive the shock,
| have found thmselves thrown into a
slaughter house whence most of them
never will make an exit.
When the German infantry began
coming over in the densest masses they
encountered Immediately an extremely
hot fire from both machin guns and ar
tillery which moved them down. Ever
SINCE as fresh waves entered the conflict,
they We're subjected to similar punish
ment. fa + 81
The German progress must not be
taken to mean that the German forces
have overcome the defenders, who intend
ed from the beginning to retire to their
i actual lines of combat as soon as the
action developed. Some idea of the de-
termined nature of the fighting may be
gathered from the struggle on each wing
The village of Councelles changed hands
numerous times and when this despatch
was sent was in the possession of the
allies. At the other end of the line Mont
i Remand was still making a magnificent
defense and last reports showed that LIZ
Plemont was vet in allied hands.
4 The center about Reasons sur Matz
! where the Germans made their mos,
obstinate effort and formed pocket
tending southeastward. is the only par
tof sthe line against which the Germans
, have been able to, report real gain
= Their intention is to try to reach tn
,, banks of the Disc and threaten the allie,
,, salient which extends to the vicinity o
Noyon. -
The Germans knew when they opene,
the attack that their task would be diff
feult. Therefore they sent into the fra,
only chosen divisions which had bee
/ specially tgaiped fer the assault. 1t
a estimated that they engaged approx
mately 20 divisions. on the front line 70
the first shock. while behind these read
!. to take the place of the exhausted div
n sions. there were probably similar nun
h Der perhaps even greater.
t. The enemy's principal progress yestel
n day was along the course of the Mat
h river. His first objective was probabl
], to reach the Disc at Montmaco, and on
al flank the whole French, salient north {
the Disc. This might result in an allie
hl withdrawal to the south hank.
XII If the enemy's objective be Jaris,
Il will naturally thrust tentacle down II
r Disc valley and another westward fro
oil the line along the 0ureq. He would
vol this way encirele the vast mass of Il
I'd Aigle, Compiegne and Villers- Cottere
10 forests. These have been found impre
r. nable to frontal attack and the enem
isl probably intends to pass north and soul
of them bringing the tentacles togethe
81 This plan seems overambitious and in
10 possible of accomplishment and it a
= pears probable that as soon as this
- realized the enemy's efforts will probab
20 be directed at Amiens or toward Calais
: In the meantime, however, the Germ,
10 battalions are being depleted in Z
49, fighting from Neyon to Chateau Thier
~ and from Verneuil to Rheims. His I
"a serves of manhood are declining o
- of 200 prisoners taken in the first da
lof June. over one fourth belonged to t
8 1910 class and the class of 1920 made
appearance on the.battle field among I
- prisoners captured at Bligny by the Br
81. ..,' tish. considerable portion of them bel
~ lads of this class.