Evening star., 1918-06-09
AMERICANS RENEW BATTLE,
PUSHING ON WITH FRENCH;
GERMANS MOVED DOWN
Battle Moves
of Moment on
Western Line
By the Associated Press.

In the battlefield of the Marne,
where a week ago the Germans were
hurting their masses of troops against
the western side of the wedge they
mad driven into the allied lines in the
battle that began March 26, the Teu-
tons are now standing virtually on
the defensive in the Chateau Thierry
sector American and French troops
are participating in reaction on the
extreme tip of the salient and are
making progress in this important re-
gion. The British are engaged on the
other side of the wedge between the
Marre and Rheims.
Attacks Spread Northward.
While the operations take the
nature of local attacks, they have had
their effect in driving the Germans
back from the points they reached on
the crest of the wave that carried
them far on the road to Paris. The
attacks, which began just to the
northwest of Chateau Thierry, are
spreading northward along the line
and everywhere the allies report
ground recovered from the enemy.
The rush of the American marines
and the French on Thursday after
noon has not continued to gain
ground as fast as it did at the in
ception of the movement, but 1t is
still going on. In the meantime they
have withstood two violent attacks
by the Germans and have repuIsed
the enemy in decisive fashion.
Artillery Fire Renewed.
Reports from the whole battle line
in France are to the effect that there
of the German artillery in several
sectors of the front. Notable among
the regions under bombardment is the
line between Noyon and Montdidier.
1t is along this line that a heavy
enemy offensive has been expected by
of the German advance from the Aisne
has died away.
When the Germans pushed west
from ST Quentin late in March and
early in April the line from Noyon to
Montdidier was almost equal in Inn
portance to that in front of Amiens.
The French forces were rushed to this
front and fought sayagely to stop the
German advance and retake ground
which was of strategic and tactical
Importance.
Eyes on Woevre Sector.
At the same time the woevre sector.
just to the southeast of Verdun, is
claiming attention. Large move
ments of enemy troops in the direc-
tion of st. Mihiel have been reported
q nhCorUarC NJ q in
dications that the positions of the
Americans along this part of the
front may be in the storm center Of a
terrific attack soon.
The advantages to be gained by the
Germans, If they succeed in breaking
west of st. Mihiel is the town Of Bar
le-Duc. and still farther westward,
twenty-eight miles away, is Vitry.
which would be but stepping stone
to a dash to Chalons- -Sur-Ma II
the line at st. Mihiel could be broken
Verdun sector would be in peril and
might haveao be abandoned.
Activities in Flanders,
In the Flanders sector. which has
been quiet since the beginning of the
attack along the Aisne, the Germans
on Wednesday sought to improve
their positions by capturing the hos
pice at Locre. This point would give
them a starting point for an attack
on the village of Locre. which is con-
sidered one Of the keys to the allied
positions along the hills behind the
line southwest Of Ypres. The French
forces in this sector on Friday. how
ever, attacked the enemy and drove
him back to his former positions and
the allied line has been restored. Brit
ish have gained near Vermezeele.
There have been no engagements
of notable character on the Italian
front. but in Macedonia the allies,
particularly the Greeks, have been
continuing their aggressive opera
tions.