Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-06-02
HOPE TO OPEN
WAY TO PARIS D.
ALONG Marine.
Reported to Be Using Near-
ly Three-Quarters of
a Million Men. i3i
5. Z
FRENCH RETAKE CHAUDUN
AFTER DESPERATE FIGHT.
Rheims, on Left of German Ads,
vance, Still in Allied f,s:s
Hands. s9
RESERVES GO INTO ACTION
Italy Well Prepared to Meet Austro,
German Offensive, Looked
For Soon. i:S4
FRENCH RETAKE CHAUDUN
AFTER DESPERATE FIGHT
GO INTO ACTION
tBy Associated Press,

With the left wing touching the
Marne and their right linking up with
the Picardy battle front at Noyon. tho
Germans in their new offensive arc
hammering the allied line apparently
with the hope Of crushing In the Sois-
sons salient, and opening up the way
TO Paris by way OF the Marne and the
Disc. They are reported to be using
we'll on toward threc-quarters OF a mill
lion of men In this effort. Although
the enemy occupies the northern bank
OF the Marine for a stretch OF a. dozen
miles east from the vicinity of Chateau
Thicrry, he seems to have made mo
serious attempt to force q crossing, the
only efforts In this direction that have
been reported being made in small
force. SE5sssst
These were vigorously repulsed by
the French. -s.,ssIsfa
The main trend OF the enemy effort
Is westward. and with this purpose
seemingly fully developed. General
Foch is dispostng of his forces to re-e
sist 1t. Already the French seem to sbs3
In considerable strength in the path OF,
the crown princes drive west OF tho
Soissons road to Chateau-Thierry,p and
the MONDAY report from Paris Saturss
day recorded considerable success In
resisting this pressure. which is being
eNcrted In great strength.
The Germans at last reports had suc-g
ceeded In penetrating from two and a.
half to nearly four miles at points west
OF this road. They were stopped, for,
the time being, at least, at Chaudun,s
three miles from the road. which the
French first lost and then retook in
desperate lighting. and likewise before
Chouy and Neuilly St Front, to the
south. lust below Soissons the crown
princes troops were forced back on the
Crise River. which runs on a north
and south line through that town m
the engagements on this front several,
hundred prisoners were taken by tho.
French. and In the Soissons fighting
especially the Germans suffered terrific,
punishment VS.
SITUATION NEAR MARINE
is SOMEWHAT OBsCURNi
Near tho Marine. In the vicinity OF
Chatcau-Thierry, an important railway!
point on the river. the situation IS;
somewhat obscure. but the French an
parently have a protecting line from
the Marine at Charteves, three and a.
half miles northeast of Chateau.i
Thierry. and linking up with their
horth ana south line above the latter
town. which the Germans are strongly
threatening.
Rheims, on the left of the German
advance, is still in allied hands and TN
general there Is little apparent effort
on the part of the Germans to enlarge
their salient in this direction. except ats
its narrow edge. which Nhey are maks
ing some Roadway in broadening along
the Marne. The line between Rheims
and the Marine takes the general course
or the Dormans- Rheims road
Paris military commentators report
the masses OF the allied reserves be.
ginning to take part in the action, and
it develops that American troops af-H
ready are in the battle area. sta ationeds
at points whence their interventions
will be easy when the time is consfds
cred favorable. 80
News from the Italian front refectsi
the opinion that the long-expectcd
Austro- hungarian offensive Is likely
TO open shortly. Italy Is declared to-
be thoroughly in readiness, and prob-S
ably better Off than ever in the way
or modern war material. sssfi.