The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-06-13
POiluS Withdraw From
CarlelWmt Wood to Avoid
a Dangerous Salient.
ADVANCE ABOVE MARINE
MOntcOurt and Part of BUS
saires Reoccupied by the
Allied Forces.
LEFT FLANK GAINS ALSO
In Centre. However. Germans
Carry Fighting Below
Mouth Of the Matz.
LEFT FLANK GAINS ALSO

I>oNroN. June 12.--OWIne to tbs
German success Yesterday in reaching
the Disc. the French east Of the river
were compelled to withdraw to the line
Of Bailly-Tracy.le.Nal west Of
Nampoei. a distance Of approximately
two miles. This was done under the
protection OF covering troops and with
out opposition. the French statement
tonight says
Berlin, on the contrary. reports the
movement as a retreat in haste and
| asserts that after evacuatinK Carle-
F; pont Wood the French were pursued
by the Germans beyond Carlepont\and
Caisnes, until they reac he'd the line in
dicated. The Germans succeeded in
getting a foothold on the southern
bank Of the Matz River. occupying til.
village of Melicocq and adjoining
heights.
1t is significant that the German>-e-
I por; does not claim any other advance
made. although there was severe hght-
ing in the new salient southeast OF
Montdid!er. where the French made i'm
! portant gains. advancing cieir front east
! VI -heiN anu tFe rSuliS W. NOou. Nv
/ night German report states that there
were only local engagements southwest
Of Noyon and south OF the Aiane. The
French captured 400 prisoners AZ one
point.
Desperate FishtinE In south.
The hghtinE south Of the Aisne was %
a desperate character-much OF it hand
! IA hA k>t
and Villsrs-Cottsrets Forest. The Ger.
mans made AhEht progress on the
plateau west Of Dom!niers and Cutry,.
but were held at Ambleny and ST. rie.r.
Aigle. North OF the Marne Treneh
troops occupied Montcour,. the small
wood north OF Eloup and the southern
part Of Bussiares
The advance o: the Germans on tbs
right or west bank OF the rver Ois.,
te!esraphs the Paris correspondent OF
Reuters was bound % tell on the other
bank The Entente troops were Obliged
to bring their positions on the two banke
INTO line
Discussing the situation Tuesday the
correspondent adds:
checked on their right and centre. the
Germans have thrown fresh masses Of
troops in the battle on their left wing
with view OF reaching the O!se Tha
country here Is mass o. little hills
separated by deep ravnes. runnia.
manly south or east, and lends itsei:
readily to the enemy's favorite tactics c:
inhitration in small detacnments
Ihe allied troops are operating in a
narrow belt on the left between ths
enemys advancing line and the O!se
With no bridges in the rear the run
the risk OF being cut of by the enemy
should he reach the river bank south o.
them and. accordingly. they are being
withdrawn gradually TO the river,
whence tho enemy is pursuing them.
The Germans soon wLl fnd themse,ve.
without cover in an open valley under
the nre OF the allied artillery and ma
I chine guns"
Rtbecouri Held by Enemy.
'Ribecourt is now in the enemy : front
line. This village Is about a mile and
t half from the bank OF the Oise and
as the enemy line now passe. around /,
the French retirement to the river val
ley was Inevitable.
The mass OF fores;s including
DOursramp Wood. Carepon, Forest ant
Montague Wood which We now hold on
. the east bank. is enclosed by the DIS.
on the north and the west and by the
/ German lines which skirt the edge Of tK-
woods on the east.
! 'Before the battle the Germans hele
the right bank of the Disc from pont.
oise to Pont rEvaque. II they now
succeed In establishing themselves along
the river valley as far as Rbecourt tho
/ allied troops in the forests on the left
bank will be between three fires"
Tuesdays German official statement
would seem to bear the interpreta tion
that the German high command con-
sIders that the objects OF It's latest OF.
, fensive already have been attained and
, that now the French are making sue.
+ cessful counter attacks tn. thrust will
? mot be pursued further.
Great stroke Yet TO Come.
E The great question 10 military critics
: here Is whether Gen, LudendorfYs plans
Q yet are fully revealed, and II the fore
= going Interpretation is correct /, would
. bear out the view held by many miii-
4 tary experts that the great stroke OF
d the Central Powers on the western front
s is still to come,
y The theory advanced oy theae critics
: Is that the big Offensive OF March 81
. and May - botn developed Successes
far surpass!ng the anticipation OF the
Z German command and were developed
e much further than originally Intended,
= and that the smaller orfensivss Of April
e Q on the Ypres front and tine present
!, thrust on the Noyon- Mon,didier front
!. were engaged in as diversions to kee!
the Franco British forces engaged and