Evening star., 1918-06-12

north OF II. Discussing the situation
Tuesday. the correspondent adds: is. =,
tho Germans have thrown fresh
ssmasses OF troops In the battle on their
left wing wave OF reaching the Oise.
The country hero IL q mass OF little
hills separated by deep ravines run
ming mainly south or east, and LENDS
itself readily to the enemy's favorite
tactic OF ennlterasion In small detach-
HnentAs
Operated on Marrow Belt.
.rne allied troops are operating in
= narrow belt on the left betw cen the
ssnemys advancing line and the Oise.
With no bridges In the re- rear sv 'ass ass
enemy should he reach the river
bank south of them, and accordingly
they are being withdrawn gradually
to the river. whence the enemy is pur,
suing them. The Germans soon will
ind themselves without cover IN an
open valley under the ire Of the al
lied artillery and machine guns.
"Ribecourt is now in the enemys
front line. This village ID about q
mile and a half from the bank OF the
Oise and as the enemy line now passes
around 1t the French retirement TO the
river valley was inevitable.
THE mass of forests including
dOurscamp wood, Carlepont forest
and Mantagne wood which. we now
hold on the east bank is inclosed py
the Disc on the north ana tne est Mest
and by the German lines which SKIRT
the edge of the woods on the east.
Before the battle the Germans held
the right bank of the Oise from Pon-
.toise to Pont rEveque. II they now
succeed in establishing themselves
-, ln,- Rihas
court the allied troops in the forests
ION the left bank will be between
three fires"
{: Deemed Allied Success.
!: LONDON. June 11-(British Ad-
.miralty per Wireless Press).-The
military correspondent of the British
Wireless Service writes:
: In the Montdidier-Noyon sector the
enemy attack is meeting with so
little success, in proportion to the
heavy sacrifices he is making, that SO
far the engagement may undoubtedly
be characterized as considerable
,allied success. The French continue
Ito hold stubbornly on both fianks at
Vile taking over 500 prisoners, a
signal proof of the enemy's despera-
.tion.
In the center the advance Of about
three miles forced by the first enemy
onslaught was followed on the sec
,ond day by a further advance of about
But for these very limited, and, SO
far, useless gains. the enemy has had
to pay price so heavy that he has
at last been compelled to draw upon
Prince Rupprecht's till now jealously
withheld reserves. This is point Of
deep significance.
The enemy apparently anticipated
a success as easy for him as that on
the Aisne and he has been taught a
severe lesson. Though he has a tenn
porary numerical superiority and the
initiative on the western front, yet,
even that Is proving insufficient to
overcome the determination Of the
allied defense
Some ground will inevitably be
gained by the enemy and the salient
at Noyon is becoming SO acute as to
necessitate rectification of line, but
If the enemy is made to pay the same
price as hIth rto such transfer of
ground will. within limits. be to the
allied advantage"
Claims $1,000 Prisoners.
BERLIN, via London. June 1.-THE
official report from headquarters to-
night says:
"on the battlefield southwest of
Noyon renewed French counter at
tacks failed with the heaviest losses
for the enemy"
The number of prisoners taken by
The Gernia.Is in the new offensive has
increased by more than 10000, max
Ing the aggregate of prisoners taken
since May u about $4,000, says the
German official communication is
sued today.
The communication adds that the
germans have repulsed. with heavy
losses. attacks northwest of Chateau
ihierry, In which region American
marines and French troops are op-
posed to them. The text Of the state.
ment reads:
"tfgnting activity, which has been
moderate throughout the day, revived
only on both sides of the Somme.
after AT the firing had greatly increased
the enemy attacked in the evening be-
tween the Ancre and the Somme A
local break Through by the enemy on
the Corbie-Braye road was brought to
q standstlll by q counter attack. On
the rest of the front the attack broke
Gain Hilly District.
During the two storming days the
attack by the army of Gen. Won Hutier
led to the intended results and put us
in possession of the hilly district
southwest of Noyon. The thrust was
directed against the stronges. posi-
tion or the enemy, who was deeply
echeloned In preparation for the at
tack. In spite of this, the French
divisions could not withstand the
1mpetuous shock Of our troops
Divisions Of the French army re-
serves: who were brought up for
centralized counter attacks, also were
repulsed yesterday in bitter fighting.
"On the right wing of the attack the
troops under Gen. Won Oetinger main
tained the lines which had been cap
tured from the enemy south Of As
attacks.
Fighting Near Merry.
THE troops of Gen. Won Ebern are
fighting in the neighborhood Of Cour-
celles and Merry. On both sides of
the high road between Roye and
Estrees st. Denis they captured the
ridge east of Merry, broke through
tine fourth enemy position and threw
him back on the Oronde river.
In spite of the stubborn enemy de-
fense, the troops of Gen. Won Schoeler
fought their way across the Matz,
and. after storming the heights OF
Marqueglise and Visneiaont pressed
FORWARD in an uninterrupted assault
as far as Anthsui.
In continuous lighting Cen HofY-
mann's corps penetrated the ene,nys
positi' n and cntnnsiements OH the
heights south of Thiascourt. On the
slopes running south to tho Oise We
pI essed forward as far as Rihecourt.
-Tne number OF prisoners has in
creased by moro than 10000, thus
raising the number OF prisoners cap
tured by the army group of the Ger
man crown prince since May 27 to
about $4,000.