Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-06-03
AMERICAN TROOPS
MAY SAVE PARIS
Victory Over Hun at Cantigny
Now Assumes Huge
Proportions.
P0IlUS TO MAKE FINAL STAND
Believed Big Battle Will Be
Staged Between Cornpiegne
and Capital.
POILUS TO MAKE FINAL STAND

WASHINGTON. June o.--Amcrican n
, troops may provo the saviors of Paris
AS me German advance slowly presses
down into the Ourcq and the Disc VAL
leys the post of the Americans at Can
tigny. twenty miles to the German lcr:
becomes more ard more important /,
was in this sense that the words of
General Bridges. OF the British mis-
sioe. when he said last night that the
Americans will be vital factor"
we're to-day Interpreted
II is learned to-day that an i'm
portant American official statement
may be made within a few DAYS. show
ing just how the American Army in
france is situated to play the big role
assigned to it.
Despite the further advances gained
by the Germans in to-day's lighting.
allied critics remain confident that the
result of the big battle now generally
expected between Compiegne and Paris
VIII not be tho fall OF the French city
IT Is predicted that the French are
making their final stand tonight Oh
ground well adapted to the purpose
Protecting Comp.egne is the forest OF
lAislc. to the northeast To the south
cast OF the city lies the great forest of
Compiegne. one OF the most extern
si"e in all this part of France Villers
Cottcret, too. is protected by a forest
which bears its name, and extends for
many miles.
Between these two strong. as we'll rs
important points the Germans. allied
officers say. Will have difficult time.
q y fe
should the Huns attempt to thrust back
either of these points to the north
or to the south, their tanks will b..
dangerously exposed. To the south. the
French along the Marine, holding tight
ly to the left bank. could drive north
ward.
HUN MUST FACE AMERICANS
SHOULD HE MOVE: NORTH
But to the north. as soon as the
German legions begin to thrust past
Compiesene. between the city ind the
Flanders battle lbne. they will come
into full contact with the Americans
about Cantigny.
1t is not possible to state definitely
the strength of the Americans at this
point. French dispatches have indi-
Gated that the raid which captured
Cantigny was carried out on a regi-
mental front. 1t is, therefore. assumed
that there is at least division OF
Americans right on the battle line at
this point. The assumption that other
divisions are in reserve follows.
There is further evidence in the talk
of officials and allied liaison officers
that American troops are moving more
rapidly into the battle limo than ever
before.
Among allied officers here there has
been notable change in the last few
days in the way they talk of German
casualties. The realization seems to
he growing that the Germans are not
going TO waste men. The assertion is
again repeated to-day that the allied
public must enure itself to a long. hard
summer of fighting.
This change seems to have been
brought about by the realization OF
the speed and perfection with which
the. Germans have been enabled to re-
constitute and recruit divisions after
the Flanders and the Picardy Often
sives! An American officer, speaking of
this to-day said:
We must never forget that the Ger
man government can reach into the
farthest corner of the empire and take
any man IL chooses for the battle line.
The same is not true in allied coun-
tries"
GERMANY SENDS WOMEN
INTO MUNITION PLANTS
There has been ample evidence within