Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-06-15
Marshalltown, Iowa.

ENEMY USES FRESH TROOPS To
CROSS RIVER NESLE.
Desperate Street Fighting Occurs In
Shell Torn City OF Scissors.
London, May 29.--Throwng in an
enormous number of fresh Troops the
Germans today extended and widencd
their drive on the AiSne front and
pushed the point Of their new salient
winch yesterday was ut FiSmcs on the
NcSlc river five miles further south,
making the maximum German pcnc
tration for The three days scvcnt cen
and half miles. SoisSonS has been
evacuated by the French and occupied
by the kaiscr's troops and the mum
Der OF prisoners taken by the Ger.
mans has risen to $4,000 including one
French and one British General.
The French made desperate effort S
to hold SoSsons fighting from street
% Strcet and almost from house to
house. The struggle continued for
several hours but finally the French
"er" forced to give up the city and
retire. They still hold the western out
skirts however and fighting contin
ucS there.
The hospitals and the civilian popl
lation were removed Monday when
the city was very heavily bombardcd
by the Germans. Moro than 1920
shells We're thrown into the city in
one day. The patients in the hospitals
were removed at once when the shell
ing began but the nursing and mcdi
cal STATS remained until yesterday
THREE CORPS ACROSS
, TIE iVESLE.
In the centre the French gave
ground north of Fcrc- -Tardcnois
AT least three German corps crossed
the Vesle River capturing Braisne and
F.smcs. A little to the east the Fran
co--Brit.sh troops held their positions
between Bronllct and Tilloy; still fur
Their east, near Rheims, the Germans
captured Villers FranQueuX and Cour-
cy and heavy fighting is now in pro
gross for the heights of Therry Il
few miles northwest of Rheims. The
British in this area late tonight were
forced to retire behind Ithe Aisne
city can be held.
Meanwhile Ihc French and British
reserves and possibly some Ameri-
cans are being rushed up to the criti
cal points, according to the corrcspon
dents at the front bui it should he
noted that nc mention of such move
mcnt is made in any Of the official
reports. hl.Ng the whole battle f. u:
which ic al;
fresh German troops are being fed in
constantly. In places their numerical
superiority over the Allies troops is
more than 10 10 / but the British and
French apparently are following the
same tactics which proved successful
i'll the fighting in Flanders forcing
the Germans to pay an enormous price
for every foot OF ground but giving
Them the ground when the price had
been paid.
The Associated Press correspond
cnt with French army says that be
sides Bochm's and Won BucOw's arm
les many divisions of Won Huticr's
troops were engaged. These especial
~ trained units had participated in
the first rush on March 81 and had
since then been reconstructed
Nii ciipiilouS hummer OF EEnL ma
chine guns were employed by the Ger
mans as well rs n large fleet Of tanks
and much heavy and light artillery
while the German aviators were OK.
tremcly active.
HOW THE AISNE WAS CROSSED.
From the plain toward Juvincourt
Nillc-auX-Bois Pontaverf came into
au-Bac numerous tanks came into
action. For II Considerable time tho
hin allied line held out but as The
enemy dcbouchcd wave after wave the
French ana English almost submcrp
ed, fell back slowly getting across tho
river. Scvc.al British officers after
ward sacrificed their lives in destroy
ing the bridges.
Almost simultaneously Overpowerine
enemy forces made heir way 10 the
top of the Chemin- Ridge
and also to the western end Of this
road in the neighbornood of Chavine
non and Malmaison and the troops
holding these points were obliged tc
rcccdoc.
The allied movement to the rca1
was executed with the greatest Drecis
ION there was no disorder and an tho
units kept in constant liaison.
RESERVES ARE YET INTACT.
In the vicinity OF Fismcs on the
south bank Of the Vesle river there
was heavy fipbfinp in ,,,b;oh n nr;+;,,