The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-05-28
COUNTER BLOW
IS LAUNCHED
BY BRITISH
and FRENCH
Enemy's Assault in Flanders
Yesterday Would Be Cost
ly and Complete Failure If
Counter Blow Succeeds.
GERMANS PUSH ON
(By Associated PressD


(By Associated PressD
WITH THE BRITISH ARMY
IN FRANCE, May 28.-British
and French troops this morning
launched a counter-attack in
Flanders east of Dickedusch
lake. The attack began well.
Success would make the enemys
assault of yesterday a complete
and costly failure.
In yesterdays attack in Flan-
ders between Locre and Voorme-
zeele the Germans are believed
to have employed four divisions
on on part of this front measur-
ing 5000 yards. The enemy
troops were punished so severe
ly that the French on the right
flank did not even get to close
quarters with them.
The Germans, striking south from
the Chemin des Danes after carrying
that important ridge in the opening
OF their new offensive yesterday have
pushed on rapidly and effected a
crossing of the Aisne river between
Zailley and Berry-au-Bac.
Front Of 20 Miles.
This represents a front Of nearly
20 miles along which the armies OF
great drive have crossed the Aisne
In addition they have apparently
pushed at points some distance south
Of the river and are striking for the
river Vesle. which parallels the Aisne
along the greater part of this front at
an average distance OF about five
miles.
The Vesle. at its most southerly
point in this sector is approximately
ten miles from the German point OF
departure hut the German penetration
IS apparently considerably short Of
theis depth.
The battle is continuing hercely
along the whole Aisne front today,
the brunt of 1t being borne out by the
French, before whose lines there was
seemingly the greatest concentration
for the enemy effort. The French
communications are excellent in this
sector, however, and the probabili-
ties are that the reserves are speedily
being sent up to the threatened points
to place before the Germans a force
that can effectively stop them.
The British, when the battle start
ed, apparently were holding line ap-
proximately twelve miles long. be
tween Bermicourt, seven miles north
west of Rheims, and Craonelle. across
the Aisne to the northwest. the line
straddling the Aisne at about midway
this distance. near Berry-au-Bac.
British Fall Back.
There is no indication that the Brit
ish right flank was materially affected
by the shock. The left flank. how
ever. felt the effect of the impact upon
the French front farther west where
a crossing OF the Aisne was forced
and the British left was obliged to
fall back in conformity.
The British line to the west Of
Berry-au Bac is now wholly south OF
the Aisne. according to the indications
in today's Official statement. The Ger
man attack in Flanders was evidently
subsidiary affair not even on the
scale of some of the previous offensive
movements there although there was
an extremely heavy concentration OF
Gains Balanced In Part.
Gains by the armies of the German
crown prince on the Aisne front have
been balanced in part by The sanguin-
airy repulses of further attempts to
push forward southwest Of Ypres. In
prepared second line positions along
the Aisne the Franco-Br.tish forces
are Offering strong resistance to the
Germans who are pressing on to cross
the river, while in Flanders the French
confidently await increased enemy
attacks.
Although the Germans attacked on
the southern flank on front OF 35
miles in great strength, it is not yet
clear what is behind the operation.
Probably several days will pass be-
fore the situation is defined clearly.
Two possibilities stand out-that the
Germans felt it necessary to widen the
elbow about Montdidier or that II
was feared General Foch might begin
a counter-offensive toward Leon. Nor
is it unlikely that the attacks on the
extremities Of the nearly 200 mile line
are feints for a studendous movement
toward Amiens.
Foe Losses Are Heavy.
In gaining the heights north of the
Aisne and the famous Chemin-Des.
Danes, the Germans suffered most
heavily. The region over which they
have advanced thus far Is one of the
most battle SCARED in France. II the
crown prince hoped to crush the
French and separate them from the
British at Berry-Au-Bac. he failed. as
contact between the allied forces has
been maintained throughout the fight.
ing How far the Germans advanced
on the extreme ends of the new fight
ing front Is not defined clearly. but in
the centre they reached the region
north OF Pont Arcy, on the Aisne, q
four mile advance.
Along the six mile front from Locre
to Voormezeele on the Flanders bat
tlefeld. the French hurled the enemy
back with great losses and still hold
tenaciously to the positions protecting
the ridge running westward from Mont
KENNEL.
IContinued On PAGE EIoht.l