New-York tribune., 1918-06-11


has been more severe than that 60
ing on to-day in the great battle of
French and German armies between
Montdidier and Noyon.
The Germans attacking on a
ground where the Entente Allies
were ready to receive the shock have
found themselves thrown into a
slughter house whence most of them
never will make an exit.
Every foot the enemy advances
row brings him farther into terri
tory which is thoroughly we'll known
to the Allies and prepared for de-
fence. Therefore his task becomes
nomentarily more difficult.
The Allied staffs are prepared to
meet every eventuality and display
tie most perfect confidence in the
outcome.
(MORNING)-At the conclusion
of the first twenty-four hours of the
new battle between Montdidier and
the Disc the impression gained is
that the powerful German smash
has not brought the enemy the re-
suit he expected. The Allied line
is bent in the centre quite insignifi-
cantly and the resistance the French
are opposing on the actual position
of the combat appears to be effica
cious.
Extreme violence was the domi-
rant note of the battle on the first
day, and desperate assaults with
huge masses Of troops seem likely
to continue at least for some days
With the concentration of troops
such as the Germans had been en-
sbled to bring into line at lne pont
,hosen for the attack it was physi-
,ally impossible for the defenders
20 resist in their advanced positions
When the masses of German in
fantry came over, the Entente AL
lied troops, spread lightly in the for
ward works, fell back coolly, fight
ing yard by yard, to the actual line
Of resistance. They held back the
enemy just sufficiently to make him
show his strength and to permit the
main body of defenders to make the
proper disposition to meet him.
At only one point was the real
French line forced to recede, and
that was in the neighborhood of
Ressons-sur Matz.
After the German infantry had
started, four hours of the most in
tense fighting had brought them
only partly across the Allied ad-
vance zone. They were battered
thoroughly by the Allied artillery,
whose target was so plain that the
enemy's losses must have been
frightful, with very little to COM
pensate him for his sacrifices.
When the German infantry began
coming over in the dense masses
they encountered Immediately an ex-
tremely hot fire from both machin"
guns and artillery, which moved
them down. Ever since, as fresh
waves entered the conflict, they have
been subjected to similar punish
ment.
The German progress must not be
taken to mean that the Germa..
forces have overcome the defenders,
who intended from the beginning
to retire to their actual lines of COM
bat as soon as the action developed.
Some idea of the determined
nature of the fighting may be
gathered from the struggle on each
wing. The village of Courcelles
changed hands numerous times, and
when this dispatch was sent was
in the possession of the Allies. At
the other end Of the line Mont Re-
maud was still making a magnificent
defence, and last reports showed
that lie Plemont was yet in Allied
hands.
The centre, about Ressons-sur-
Matz, where the Germans made their
most obstinate effort and formed a
pocket tending southeastwards u is the
only part of the line against which
the Germans have been able to re-
port real gain. Their intention is
to try to reach the banks of the Disc
and threaten the Allied salient,
which extends to the village of
Noyon.
The Germans knew when they
opened the attack that their task
would be difficult. Therefore they
sent into the fray only chosen divi-
sions, which had been specially
trained for the assault 1t is esti-
mated that they engaged approx
mately twenty divisions on the front
line for the first shock, while behind
these, ready to take the place of the
exhausted divisions, there were prob
ably similar number, perhaps even
greater.