Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-05
Aviators Help Turn Tide by
Re-establishing Su.
premacy
DROP BOMBS ON BOCHES
By C.. II. PERRIS
Special Gable TO Epening Public Ledger
COPYRIGHT 1918. by Ncrr York Times Co.

bank of the river and the upper road
through hily country passing by Mon
treuilauX.Lions. where Field Marshal
French had his headquarters during
the British advance in September,
1914 Monday morning the enemy
made an attempt to debouch from
Chateau -Thierry by the latter way
but was stopped short by the massed
fire of French batteries further north
There is slackening in the VIC.
lenCe of the battle. Sundays fighting
was the most equal | have ever seen
in this stage of the offensive. We
lost t'averolles again--this village has
since been recaptured-but regained
Hill 1863. just west of the village of
PasSy. and broke attacks against
Corey. Troesnes and TorCy II is to
be expected that the. enemy will make
new efforts to destroy the French bas-
tion on the bare pleateus between
the Aisne and OurCq.
Local currents of fortune are also
in the nature of things. according as
one side or the other decides to throw
its local reserves upon this or that
point. So far as the intentions of
the German command have been re
vealed. however. 1t may now be said
that the position is in hand al the
end OF the first week of this third act
of the German offensive.
No Objective Obtained
What is the outlook? BY lengthy
preparation aimed at an unlikely sec
tor the enemy gained ground to nearly
as large an extent as in the first act
In the last week of March Won Hutier
pierced from st. Quentin to Mont
didier. say. thirty-tive miles. In the
last week Won Boehm advanced from
Ailette to Chateau -Thierry. but thirty
miles. on a similar length of front. It
is too early to attempt comparison of
the cost of the two enterprises in
losses ana exhaustion. The German
General Staff seems to have counted
on employing forty.fiVe divisions in
the Aisne offensive. Before the end
Of lant week this figure had been eX-
Ceeded.
No essential objective has been at
tanned, and none has been approached
as nearly as in the two northern
phases of the offensive. Concentra-
ton not dispersal, of effort is the
means of a quick decision. IF Ger
many were not pressed for time and
could be content with partial vic
tories, she might be satisfied but Ger
many is decidedly pressed for time
and only decisive actions now count
The Americans are coming into the
battle front and will presently be here
in force. This front now extends over
200 miles. The superiority of aggres.
siyo force given bv the collapse of
Russia and Ruman MIA is ebbing away
This simple summary of the essential
facts anpears to me to Justify on our
part reasonable confidence
n.,os rirr,
'he
The question VIII nave arisen IN some
minds why. II the oels oele"ses Vi t'I
Chemin-des- s-pames were as STRONG as
had represented them to be, last Mon
days attack should nave 5" PulcNlS
overcome them. detained narratives att
being accuil'ui''eu sho
on this subject, take lne case VI 'iie
division holding the rreIcIl ieiI a W.
ago we remember l'S lto'L'' 49, ,r
naturaIiy ana aTtll'.'alih ~ - ,'' ,o,ieo
est. II hd" H'ai ~
OF "ha' vas atoo' ,,,o Gamma, or,irI.ry,
In the hrs' platt' u'e we '''s,i, a. - t.,
nreparatioh' tioGsn ,,II nas,a ,ras
terna' EIolenCs' w =. ,",.,,s tbe French
Two mics uesp' ~, ana ,La batterv
teiePhone ,ac,ire.gur r,osts
efnp.aceinel's an" 49,, e. nnst
WIN EaIioua ,oiia rIo,Ids isolated
ana al .af "a. and MD tho waves
groups OF deienHeIs 80 u,ith a fonr-
OF assaui' ''!l .'HsS l,ar, gro,Ins
lold super iol ny -. ta',gbt on COR
were lH"" ""' - c,ueipg the enemy
a COUPE VI Nro,y sLort counter.at-
neaNS ios9e' ,.'t.,s, a,,a a,er,, line
'acNs ,,sad
OF ueht" NdS . t,or,o,t thing
bu' t"e ka,,, oo,,ld nor arrive
o''Ne ,t., o., ,hat tho MACS NJ the
immediateiS' vas nc ~ .onatLar ,nd
drawn oath i ~ rhesa law
more esse'''sa' s.Iio,,. bridsobea6 Pc
beyohu 'he 20 ,,', os2uo i.ts 80 ai,.;s;on
enforced last luesoaS s,.ts, @ " Snis-
detehdeo me .oi,I, ah,,;r,ato hero
sons lot loui u'' VIVA
ism.
Allied Ar"e" N"p''"
II may now be said that the Aihea ar
men have established DECIDED supremacy
in the new battlefield. Ihe GERMANS
had week ago, in TINS as III othe'
respects, the advantage OF thelr prepafa-
tions and initiative and they useu
npi,,a,. oS;usS, ,.,,nning our retreatlne ranks.
The balance could not be Instantly
redressed The airplane seems to be
the very type OF mobility, but il devours
netrol. demands repairs. and, in brief
must carry its camp with il.
Every day of this critical week has
seen a larger concentration between the
Oise and the Marne and an increasing
number of combats and expeditions. The
first essential was to have constant in
formation of the enemys movements,
and this scouting work. though less sem
sstionaI than some other parts of the
air nroeram. remains perhaps the most
innortant of all
Then followed with growing vigor the
DEVELOPMENT of the aggressive functions
of the air service in which il became
sort of extension of artillery and cav