New-York tribune., 1918-06-05
ochs Troops No,u
Counter Attacking
On 45-Mile Front
By Arthur S. Draper
Especial Cable to The Tribune

Especial Cable to The Tribuno)
LONDON, June 1.-The ninth day of
the Grown Princes gigantic drive for
Paris brings highly encouraging news
from the Allied point Of view Foch
reports that his troops are counter at
tacking along the forty -fve-mile front
from Noyon to Chateau Thierry and
that they have recaptured some places.
On the French right the situation is
unchanged. Only west of Soissons and
near Chateau Thierry could the Ger
man man army advance slightly nearer
Paris After weeks fierce fighting
the Crown Princes army has lost most
of its momentum, and though the tide
has not yet turned in favor of the
Allies the enemy has made little head
way
The Crown Prince is straining des-
perately and the long lost Foch re-
serves have arrived in sufficient num-
oerS to make every effort highly costly
to the enemy.
Turning Point Near
Paris IS safe for the moment, at
least Though optimistic prophecies
lieve that the situation will improve in
the next few days. If the battle runs
the same course AS the struggle on the
plains of Picardy the turning point has
come.
Much depends on whether Grown
Prince Rupprecht is drawn into the
struggle for Paris or whether hi,
weight will be thrown against Amiens
and Ypres. If Ludendorff elects to
press his advantage on the Marine,
then the fate Of Paris will remain in
doubt. But if the Grown Prince is
left to fight with his own army. the
future Of the battle north of the Marne
looks more promising than at any time
IN the last five days.
| caution against optimism because.
though Ludendo1tf has as his obiective
the destruction of Foch's reserves and
not the capture of territory, Paris is
too valuable a political plum to be
abandoned without further desperate
effort
1t should also be remembered that
1he crown Prince is fighting for politi-
cal rather than solely military obiec
tives, for the vindication of the Ho-
henzollern dynasty. The Crown Prince
wants to march into Paris and the de-
structlon of Foch's reserves is only a
secondary objective in his mind. al
though unquestlonably Ludendorff re-
verses the order of their Importance.
It must also be remembered that the
German attack has been so unprece-
uen1eClV rapid that the infantry far
ot,utstrlpped the artillery and that when
the guns catch up the battle will be
resumed with redoubled violence
For the Germans it is still struggle
against time, race to get the full
weight Of Ludendorff's armies into ar.
ton before Foch can erect an impen-
etrable barrier around Paris.
BY using the rivers, first the Aisne
then the Vesle and Marne, and in the
North the Disc and Aislette, as progress
s1ve TANKS, the Germans have advanced
by rapid jumps and without fear of a
french reaction on the flank.
Heaviest Fighting in West
The greatest struggle since the open-
ing OF the battle week ago Yesterday
Is taking place on the French left. ana
the vagueness of Foch's report TO-DAY
IS indicative OF the fuidity of this
front. Fortune favors one side and
then the other. as they struggle on tho
outskirts of the forest covering vii
lers- -Cotterets and Compiegne, two i'm.
portant centres for the armies fighting
on the Ourcq, Aisne and Disc.
The triangle south of Noyon formed
by the Disc and the Aisne is growing