Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-05-29
Men at Front Predict Drive
Soon Will be Completely
Checked.
CRISIS TO PASS IN
FORTY-EIGHT HOURS
General Foch Has Situation Well in
Hand-Germans Succeeded in Cross
ing vesIe River at One Point-Allied
Lines Unbroken and Danger Not So
Grave as in Drive of March 81
Germans Pay Dearly For Gains.

tSH SH0 S0rWAh opsSO 0SSs:' .'7-::: .!.'
Aisne and both the French and the
British have been forced to give
more ground. Confidence is ex-
pressed in Paris, n.s.=ever, that the
allied reserves, now rapidly coming
up, will shortly turn the scale and
stop the enemy advance along tho
vesie river, in vicinity Of Fismes,
where the point Of tho Ger
man wedge has been thrust. Tho
pressure on both the allied fianks,
however, has been such that both
have been compelled to fall back.
On the west, the French lines
have been withdrawn to the easter
iy outskirts of Scissors, which
is about seven miles south Of tho
nearest point Of the battle line az it
existed before the now German
drive began on Monday. This con-
siderably broadens to the west tho
front on which the enemy 10 ad-
vanciny.
On the ssst the Franco British
line has been pulled back from St.
Thisvry. northwest Of Rheims,
whsrsyR rested Yesterday, TO the
south, and southeast OF that town.
This also has the effect OF widsn-
ing out the front Of the shsmy
thrust.
The bringing of Soissens into the
battle area may indicate .that the
weight Of tho German blow has
been shifted in this southwesterIy
direction.
The German stack across the
Aisne apparently 10 slowing down
as the Franco, British troops be-
gin counter attacks on tho wings,
and French reserves are rushing in
to stem the enemy onslaught in tho
center, where it has reached tho
vesle river.
Around Fismes, about half way
between Soissons and Rheims, and
the center Of important allied COM
munications, q desperate battle is'
being fought.
Berlin claims the Germans have
crossed the Vesle on either side Of
Fismes but tho Freneh still are in
tho town and are holding to Il
stubbornIy while the reserves como
up.
On the right, northwest Of
Rheims, tho British are maintain.
ing a.masterly position in tho st.
Thiery vicinity. north and west Of
the town Of st. Thierry.
French troops on tho left have
stopped the German onrushss by
strong counter attacks and arc
holding firmly to the high points
Of NeuvilIs Sur Marsivai. and
vrsony, north Of tho Aisns, and the
heights between cisry- II aIsooane
and Vaseny, which dominate the
Vesie.
Heavy fighting CONTINUES. all
along tho front from south Of
Pinon to almost north Of Rheims.
I, Overwhelming numbers enabled
the Germans In their first attack to
penetrate allied lines 20 beyond
the Aisns and captured more than
half score Of villages and $1,000
prisoners.
The great advance was made In
the center, four miles to the Aisne
and then six to the vesIs, q total
Of ten miles.
AZ in tho offensive In Pieardy
and In Flanders the enemyl. adj.
vance has assumed tho form Of a
blunt. nossd wedge with ito apex
less than three miles In width, Iy.
ing between Bazoohes and Fismss.
Notwithstanding their success in
pushing the allies from tho
chemin des Danes and the HEIGHT.
Of craonns TO beyond The Aisne
and into territory untouched bv
fighting since early in the war, the.
enemy has not sueessdsd in widen.
ing the elbow about Montdidier
nor in changing tho allied line in
Champagne east Of Rheims. Direct
highway and railroad communica.
ton between Soissons and Rheims
has been broken by tho German.
but neither Of these sheIi-wrecked
cities appears to be in imm mediate
danger.
obserxers assert that forty eight
hours moro probably will witness
the hating Of Ahe forces Of tho
German crown prince. The French
rsservss are moving forward swiftly
and osnsraiz Foch has the situation
we'll in hand.
French and British troops have
ecmpletely restored the situation
N Flanders, where four German
divisions Monday attacked ona six