The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-07-15

Reports show that, so far as the length
of the line is concerned, the present drive
is the greatest of the war. At first it
was believed from the French war Office
statement that the line was about so
miles in extent, but apparently the re-
port from Paris told simply Of the length
OF the French.held lines under attack.
Measurements Of the line where fighting
is known to be going on, however, show
that it is los kilometres, or 65.I. miles
long. The attack against the Cambria
front on March 2l was over front of
55 miles.
Last night terrible artillery fire was
loosed against the allied lines from Cha
teau Thierry, on the west, to Maison de
Champagne, north of Massiges, on the
east.
For hours the entente allies were un-
der a tempest of the most tremendous
character Not only was the actual bat
tie area under bombardment, but towns
and cities far behind the lines were made
targets for great 10 and l2.inch projec-
lies fired from what appear to be naval
siege guns brought up behind the Ger
man positions.
During the past few weeks, it has been
rumored that the resumption of the Ger
man offensive would witness a long-range
bombardment of places which would
heretofore be considered at safe dis
tance from the front These rumors
proved to be true.
The lay world had expected the Ger
man main effort TO be loosed against the
line from the Marne to the Aisne, north
of Chateau Thierry; in the Picardy sec
tor, towards Abbeyille, or further north
in the Lys sector, against the channel
port. Along this line the allies have
been daily improving their lines and pre-
pairing for the new drive.
But the Germans chose sector which
except for a surprise attack around
Rheims, late in June, has been quiet
since the offensive launched on the Aisne
on May 27 came to a standstill. East of
Rheims and north Of Chalons there has
been little fighting of significance for a
long time.
This line, of which Rheims may be
considered the keystone, was chosen for
the reason that information might have
been received by the Germans that it
was less strongly held than sectors along
the front nearer Paris. Thus it might
be reasonable to expect that a greater
territory could be overrun there at small
er expense of men and materials than
on the lines where the allies are known
to be very strong.
The Germans hold the north bank of
the Marne for distance of about 20
miles east of Chateau Thierry Their
line leaves the Marne near the village of
Dormans and runs off to the northeast
of Rheims, where it turns abruptly to
the southeast and runs down the valley
Of the Vesle river to the village of La
Pompelle, where it turns eastward and
runs in a relatively straight line to Yer
dun. Maison de Champagne, the eastern
limit of the present battle, is 81 miles
west of Verdun.
Located back of the allied line east of
Rheims is the railroad which supplies
the French forces at Verdun and the
Americans at st. Mihiel with food and
supplies. In this sector, too, are the i'm
portant cities Of Chalons, Epernay and
Bar-le Due, all three of which are impor-
tant supply centers for the allied forces.
The railroad was interrupted to some ex-
tent by the German advance to the
Marine between Rheims and Chateau
Thierry but it is still very important
artery for the allied forces.
The only other fighting of moment re-
ported from the front has occurred on
the Villers- -Bretonneux sector, in front
Of Amiens, where the British have i'm.
proved their positions.