The sun., 1918-05-28
British Holding Sector in,
Champagne Are Forced
Astride the Aisne.
ENEMY USING TANKS
French on English Left
Also Fall Back-Battle
Still Goes On.
FLANDERS ATTACK FAILS
Germans Penetrate Positions,
but Are Thrown Out, Ex-
cept at One Place.
FLANDERS ATTACK FAILS

LONDON, May c7-The great German
offensive was resumed to-day along
practically the entire front. On two
sectors, in Flanders and on the Aisne.
terrific blows were struck. AT various
other places there were heavy bonn
bardments. gas shell attacks and spir-
tied patrol engagements.
Initial successes are reported by the
Germans. especially in the south.
where. according to a. Berlin an
nouncement. the Crown Princes army
has stormed and taken the entire
Chemin des Danes and is fighting
along the Asne River to the south.
A despatch from the Flanders battle
front this afternoon said the offensivs
in the Locre sector had failed.
Allied Line Kept Intact.
A conflict Of desperate character
was carried on from Vnuxaillon, above
Scissors to the outskirts OF Brimont.
an air line distance of more than
twenty miles. the enemy penetrating
as far rs Pont-Arcy, several miles
within the former French line. To.
nights statement from the French
War Office says both French and Brit
ish troops retired methodically. keep
ing in perfect touch at all points. The
German gains were made only through
terrible sacrifices. At no point was
there dlsorganizatio In the allied
lines.
The reorganzed German armies
struck after brief artillery preparation.
In Flanders the main assault covered
the short distance between Noorme-
zeele and Locre. south OF Ypres. on
the lower side of the sharp salient OF
the allied lines. The larger operation,
between Scissors and Rheims. eX-
tended over a th.rty-five mile front.
the line from P.non to Rheims. 1t was
the first time in year that heavy
blow had been aimed at this region.
where some OF the bloodieSt fighting
of the war took place last summer.
ROnd Has Strategic Value.
If the German report that the
Chemin des Danes has been captured
proves correct the enemy has acquired
valuable positions, as the road runs
along ridge which formed an ad-
mirab.e defensive line
The attack in Flanders was against
positions taken by the French May 90.
Allied troops at that time took Bruloose
and l.ocre. following up "A success OF
few days before. and later Strengthened
their line slightly by capturing other
territory to either side.
The lighting on the Aisne undoubtedly
has been upon a vast scale. In last
years battle for the Chemn des Danes
the German Crown Prince hurled sew
enty-tive divisions 600, 900 mem against
the allied lines. only to see them
crushed by the terrific resistance they
encountered. To-days drive was launched
from Laon and is aimed at the elbow
IN the line formed during the fighting in
Picardy in March and April.
Tanks Drought Into Action.
Not only did 'he Germans make a
liberal use of gas shells in the Aisre
fighting. but they appear to have had
considerable number OF tanks engaged.
To-night's report from Field Marshal
HaIg, in which he admits that British
divisions fighting with the French were
pressed back 10 the left of Berry-au-
Bac, mentions the enemy's use OF tanks.
To the right. however, the British line
held firm
An Associated Press correspondent at
British headquarters, In n despatch filed
at r. NJ. says
The Germans launching heavy
offensive at dawn against the French In
the Locre-Noormezeele sector failed OF
their obJectires at virtually all points.
At some points the defending patrols
We're driven in hut vigorous counter at
tacks threw the Germans back at most
places. Practically the entire French
line was established
Hard fighting 1T this hour still con-
tinues on the northern part OF the bat
tlefroni. Just south OF Dickebusch
Lake the Germans forced their way into
the French lire for a distance OF 500
yards and also got into the front line
system AT another point in this region.
In both these places the enemy was
clinginS desperately 10 his newly ac-
qusrcd positions. but the French were
dealing with the situation, which ap-
pcared 20 he satisfactory at the latest
reports. One hundred prisoners have
been sent ba X 10 the French cages
"ro-day's attack was perhaps pre-
lm,nary 10 larger operations and ap.
parently has been undertaken for the
purpos, of regainlng the high ground
which the French wrested from thu
enemy ." May 60 Such 99'''i0ns as