Evening star., 1918-06-16
Secure All 0bjectives Near
Bethune-Foe May Speed
New Drive.
SITUATION IS TENSE
ALONG WHOLE LINE
Teutons Expected Either to Drive
Further on Paris or Turn on
British in Flanders.

British forces have smashed
forward on a front of two miles
north of Bethune and taken
German forward positions.
1t is believed in Paris and
London that not many days will
elapse before the Germans begin
a new assault against the allies.
1t is known that Crown Prince
Rupprecht of Bavaria has large
reserves, which are somewhere
along the Somme and Flanders
fronts. Opinion is divided as to
the point against which the blow
will be struck, Paris believing
that the Germans will continue
their thrust toward the capital.
London, however, believes
that the German drives will come
before Amiens or in Flanders.
Dispatches from the front say
that the situation is tense along
the whole line, and it is prob
able that the Germans, when
they strike, will find the allies
ready to receive them.
British Report Of Success.
By the Associated Press.
LONDON, June 15.-British troops
in a local operation have captured the
German forward position on q front
Of two miles north Of Bethune. ac-
cording to Field Marshal Haig's re-
port from British headquarters In
France tonight. The text Of the
statment reads:
The number Of prisoners taken by
US in the successful operations car
ried out last night north Of Bethune
is 1876. We also captured several
machine guns. AS result Of this
attack our troops have gained posses
sion OF the enemy's forward positions
on front of two miles, securing al
our objectives.
In the fighting reported this morn.
ing east Of Nieppe forest the enemy
by local attack, carried out under
q heavy bombardment succeeded In
driving in three Of our advanced posts
west Of Vteux BerQuin.
"The hostile artillery was active
this morning east Of Arras and has
ah a%H
north Of Bethuns."
French Retake Coeuvres-et-va1sery
PARIS. June 15.-French troops hav,
reoccupied Coeuvres ct : Valssry
southwest of scissors, an importan,
strategic point. from which the Ger
mans have been endeavoring to de.
bouch their troops. The war ono.
announcement of this adds tha'
ground has also been gained arount
Montgabert.
The text Of the statement reads:
South Of the Aisne local operation
enabled us to drive the enemy out o.
Coeuvres-et-Valsery which we oc
cupied. We likewise enlarged oul
ground east of Montgabert. One hun
dred and thirty prisoners and about
ten machine guns remained in oul
hands.
"on the Pest Of the front there ii
nothing Of Importance to report"
Mastered Since Third Day.
PARIS. June 16.-'The third Of thu
enemy's great offensives has beer
mastered ever since the third day.
says an oficial comment issued thil
evening.
when one stops to think that ths
Germans, electrified by their success
on tho Marne. expected to overwheln
US. and advance along the road 4
Paris through compiegns. which VA
their nrst objective" adds the com.
ment. '"ths importance Of June II
which obliged them to stop, can b,
seen.
"For seven days the enemy was abl,
to make progress in the offensive be
ginning March 81. Following May q
his advance was Interrupted in th'
casion the Germans, who had lot loos,
their attack June .. had to give vi
after the battle of June H.,
"Our soldiers. inferior in number
have beaten the best assault troops
Of the German empire and infiicte,
again the barrier. This result give
us confidence in the future"
Preparing During Lull.
The lull along the front Of the Ger
man offensive 10 considered merely
period Of preparation for new attacks
The six days Of terrible lighting cas-
! Of Montdidier realized mediocre gain
and the Petit Parisien says that tn
! German check gives q good reason 70
confidence. as the allied armies ar
increasing continuously. It 10 pointe,
out that the army Of the Germa,
crown prince IL exhausted, and 1t 1
| believed that Crown Prince Rup
precht Of Bavaria, whose reserves ar
far from being equal to those undo
! Continued on Fourteenth Page.)
A