The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-09-27

For reasons best anown~to the war
office. details OF the advance are
withheld for the present. The new
method OF exercising reserve in the
official announcements and keeping
more than usual check on the cor
respondents outpouring proved ex-
tremely efficacious il the Marine and
st. Mihiel drives. It is F'och's fash
ion to talk after not during ever par
tie.
The length Of the line OF attack
is variously put in fragmentary dis
patches at between 40 and rs miles.
1t is the greatest offensive ever par
ticipGted in by Americans
AS for the prt taken by Amerf-
cas- army the Paris war office leaves
the reporting to Pershing and the
American generalissimo. like Foch. is
a modest man. of the school that
puts doing above talking. Thus the
detailed story of the opening day of
this. apparently the biggest push en-
barked upon by an allied force this
year, is still TO come.
Servon Vital Point
Early in the evening the capture q
Servon and Navarin farm were 49,
Armed Servon. in German HANDS
since 1914, lies half way hAtween
Rheims and Verdun and I2 miles
south of Vouzieres on the Laon-
Metz rail. vital to the German sys-
tenn of communications. Navarin
farm. f3 miles due west at Scrvon
tits capture shows the French adj
vanced in an absolutely straight line),
Hes two miles south of the Suippe
river and the important railway rum
ming parallel with that stream. On
this farm, some of tho fercest close
quarters struggles Of the war were
fought between French and Germans
three years ago.
Most of the early patc1hea
place the attacking front between
Suippes and the Meuse Suippes Mes
% miles southeast OF Rheims Just
north of the Verdun- Paris railway
The drive, in its strategic concep-
ton. may be compared with the Ger
man offensive in the spring. for, IL
successful IL will do to the Germans
what Ludendorff failed to do to the
allies--it will drive a. wedge between
Germeny's northern and southern ar
mics at the same time outfaAking
the already gravery threatened Hin
denhurg line hastions Laon and st.
Quentin.
From Berlin came tonight the usual
soothing syrup for the kaiser's peo-
pie. "A break through was frus-
rated" said a. war once announce
ment. II added the Franco American
attack was launched after eleven
hours of artillery preparation.
French and American front dis
patches place the time of the prslim-
mary Smelling at about one-half,
from IL to $50. They agree. how
ever that it was a terrific lombard
ment executed by probably one Of the
vastest gun concentrations the aiiiO
have ever had behind their ASSAULT
ing columns. Gas was used laviahfy.
The fighting continues for our po-
concludes the German night
report--which is Ludendorff's way Of
telling his compatriots: Don't jubi.
late too soon: the end Is not yet"
What happened in the early stage
of the offensive seems clar. Gouraud's
French army attacked over part Of
the same front on which the Ger
man crown prince on July Is last
sent forth his left into the vauntNd
"Friedensturm" that was to result In
the greatest German debacle since the
first Marine battle.
Germans Copy Tactics.
1t appears that the Germans copied
today the very tactics Gouraud ueAd
for the same time in the war against
that German July drive. Anticipat@ Y
ing the attack, he had the stage fully
set for an immediate withdrawal -
his battle positions. and thAra -.
"stone walled" the German&
= But while xthA 0srmans - ~