Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-05-28
ATT TACK ALONG LINE
KNOWN AS A|SNE FRONT
Distinctive Feature OF Second OTen-
sire Is Drive Between Soissons
and Rheims.
CONTRARY TO PROPHECIES
War Experts Looked for Resumption
on That Part of Front to Which
Previous Thrust Had Apparently
Committed German Command.
CONTRARY TO PRoPHEcIE.
tgy Associated Press.1

S? Associated Press
LONDON. May 27.-By their attack
OF to-day. the Germans have extended
the active battle front az far east as
Rheims. taking in new sector. which
has been quiet since last fall. The
thrust between Locrc and Voo.mezeele
is along the northern leg Of The Flan-
cers salient, on sector measuring :
about eight miles where the Germans
met with one o: tho bloodicst defeats
OF the war when their drive for the
channel ports was halted last month.
The attack between Scissors and
Rheims. however is the distinctive
feature of the new German operations
The front OF the German attack is
along the sector which usually is re-
ferred TO as the .Aisne front, owing
to the fact tina; for long time the
line OF battle followed the river The
present battle line runs along the
.Ailette River. north OF the .Aisnc. over
the larger part OF this sector the
French having advance their line. The
front OF attack is about forty miles,
which is about hficer miles shorter
than the line OF the original German
| attack on March 81.
GERMANS Do NOT FOLLOW
EXPERTS FORECASTS
In turning to a new sector TO strike
their blow. the Germans have taken
a course contrary to that which had
generally been predicted by military
commentators during the pause in the
operations. The view usually eX-
pressed has been that the Germans
were committed so heavily TO their
campaign in Pica-dy and Flanders. and
~
posed positions. that they were under
the necessity of striking again a. these
points when they resumed the attach.
1t is not unlikely, however, that the
attack on the -Aisne front viii be fol-
lowed by renewal of the offensive on
the other battle fields. The German
strategy may contemplate a surprise
attack in sufficient strength TO com
pei Genera! Foch TO withdraw troops
from the north. in the hope Of involv-
ing the allies sufficiently on the Aisne
front TO weaken their lines in P!cardy
and Flanders.
II the Germans counted on the ele-
ment of surprise 20 assist them in the
new attack, they probably have fallen
into a miscalculat tion. 1t is very evil
dent from the official British state
ment that new dispositions OF troops
have been made along the Aisne front
Before the March offensive the British
line ran TO the Disc River, south Of ST
Quentin. Going 10 the assistance OF
the British. the French took over a
sector extending to point east Of
Amiens. There has been no previous
mention OF the presence of British
troops on this part OF tho line. except
for last nights German Official state
ment. In this statement it was said
that in the region OF the Aisne. north
east of La Neuville, British were taken
prisoner.
AMERICAN TROOPS
PROBABLY on THE LINE
American troops may be taking part
in the new battle. Early in the spring
there were several references in news
dispatches to the presence of Ameri-
cans at that part of the line Part of
these forces consisted of artillery de-
tachments in training, but at one point.
at least. infantrymen were in the
trenches. There has been no recent
reference to Americans there, however.
and they may have been withdrawn.
The front between scissors and
Rheims is a difficult one. offering the
allies excellent facilities for the de-
fense. The country is hiily. with a
series of strong natural positions to
the rear of the allied lines. The Ger
mans have already sustained two Sc
we're defeats on this front. Last July
they undertook what is usually re-
ferred TO the crown princes Of
fensive.' which met with the same fate
as all the other military ventures Of
the heir TO the German throne. He
carried on the attack for several weeks
and met with n costly failure. Last
october the French launched an attack
and won brilliant success, taking L.
900 prisoners the first day. The enemy
was driven out of the Aisne Valley and
the line was advanced TO the Ailettc
the Germans losing all the disputed
ridge of the Chemin- des- Danes.
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