The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-06-11
IS
CRITICAL FOR
THE ENTENTE;
ENEMY GAINS
Germans, Despite Fright
full" Losses, Move with
Steadiness and Gain Here
and There in Center of Line
VILLAGE IS RETAkEN
(By Associated Press.)


Moving with steadiness, in
spite of the frightful losses in
flicted upon them, the Germans,
in their plunge southwark on the
line from Noyon to Montdidier,
continued to gain here and there
in the center Of the line, where
their greatest efforts have been
exerted and where the French
resistance might have been ex-
pected to be most stubborn. The
enemy's greatest advance is at
Vignemont, six miles from the
line as it stood last Saturday.
The French have launched
counter attacks on the left of
their line which may be an in
dication that they have reached
the front where they will make
their final stand. This line
seems to be along the Aronde
river, a small stream flowing
west and northwest from the
Disc and roughly paralelling the
line of the advance.
The Germans, according to the
official statement issued by the
French war office, reached the
vicinity" of this stream. This
marked the limit Of their ad-
vance however, and the French
Immediately attacked and drove
the enemy back to the line pass
ing through Belloy.
The village of Merry, west of
Belloy was retaken by the
French Monday night.
Enemy Reaches Antoval.
This part Of the battle front, how.
ever. apparently is not the most men.
acing to the French. 1t fs farther
east that the Germans seem to be
making their most telling gains. Here
along the right bank of the Disc. they
have reached Antoval, a village which
lies on the crest of the hill above the
important town OF Ribecourt lying on
low fiat land west of the Disc. The
French admit that their Zine of re-
sistance to the west and south of Ribe-
court" has been withdrawn in conse-
quence.
This movement has not resulted as
yet according to reports. in the with
drawal of the French line east of the
Disc from the Ourscamp and Garlic
pont forest. strong positions from
which the French defended their posi-
tions in their earlier attempts of the
Germans to cross the Disc south of
Sempigny.
The battle in the new area may now
be considered as having DEFINITELY on
tered its critical stage, as in the Som
me, Flanders and Aisne combats the
third and fourth days of the offensive
were mast menacing to the allies. II
now seems certain that the present
German operation constitutes a very
serious blow at the allied liz t-~-'
the Disc to the Marne, as well a.
threatening the level county Dc,l.
the present battle line. Before this
can be reached, however, the Ger
mans may encounter even greater re-
sistance than they have overcome
since their offensive began
British Take Prisoners.
The only other operation of signif-
canoe reported was carried out by
Austrians on the British front at Nor
lancourt, east of Amiens. Here the
British advanced to a depth of half
a mile over a front of a mile and a
half. More than 200 prisoners were,
captured by the British
Fighting is Furious.
Battling their way forward In the
centre of the Montdidier-Noyon line
the Germans are making slight gains
The French are resisting desperately
and the fighting is the most furious OF
the present year. German advances
have been made at heavy cost
Along the valley of the Matz, the
Germans are making their most rapid
progress, but their advance there has
not yet greatly affected the wings OF
the attacking front The apex OF the
new salient now extends from Merry
to Elincourt, about seven miles. Mon.
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