The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-06-12
GERMAN DRIVE
NEARLY HALTED
Limited Progress Made in DI.
rection of Ribecourt.
FRENCH RECAPTURE TOWN
In Counter Attack HurI Huns Back
and Regain Mery-Negro Troops,
Supported by Tanks, Win Back Big
Forest.

Forest.
With the French Army in France,
June 1.-THE strongest effort made by
the Germans in their rev offensive
was in the direction Of the railroad
connecting Estrees- st. Denis and Mont
didier
The Germans met with such resist
ance that they renowned for the mo-
| ment their attempts in this region.
Negro troops, supported by entente
allied tanks, which did great eIecu-
ton, delivered a brilliant counter at
tack In this vicinity and recaptured
the forest running southwest of Mar
queglise, between Perte farm and
Loges farm.
The allied infantry re-entered the
village of Merry which had formed
protective point for the German ad-
vance through the valley.
Seeing their progress hindered on
this side the Germans turned toward
the other flank and nearly reached
Ribecourt, to the north Of which place
woods of Deslincourt.
The enemy will be forced to debauch
on the plain near the Disc river. where
he will find himself without the shell
ter of woods and will be subjected to
a concentrated fire of allied artillery
and machine guns
The Germans have found it neces-
e. Nd divisions
to fill the gaps in their ranks caused
by the terrific allied gunfire.
The difficulties confronting the enc
| my are very great in the nature of the
country he has now entered in his new
drive. The terrain comprises sharp
hills. deep valleys and thick woods.
Where his most pronounced progress
has been made. III tie center of the
battlefield. the ground forms sort
of hollow through which runs the main
road from Senlis to Roye and the Com
peign-Roye railroad
The Germans apparently are trying
to increase the rapidity of their adj
vance by entirely ignoring the losses
they sustain. the object being to ac
quire possession of as much territory
as possible before the allies are able
TO stabilize the front. Each division
| seems to have received orders to go
ahead. needless of what the others are
accomplishing.
While attempting to do this, the
Germans are coming under the fire of
the allied batteries and groups of ma
chine guns, which possess the accurate
ranges of all points.
This fierce opposition offered by the
allied troops appears to have discon-
certed the German high command,
| which expected to be able to reduce
the allied salient around Noyon much
more easily.
The enemy guns were very busy
but we'll countered by the allied artil-
lery In addition, the wind changed
its direction and tens of thousands
of poison gas shells fired by the Ger
mans did more damage to themselves
than to the allies
Enemy losses under the direct fire
of the French artillery have been hor
rible Every time the allies counter
attack they find the ground covered
with German dead.
The enemy succeeded at an immense
cost in pushing his advance from Il
mile to three miles deeper into the
allied front. At AIarqueg1ise, the
southernnost point of the salient. he
was about seven miles from his start
Ing point
The fighting was almost unprece-
dented in fury The Germans. centin-
uing To attack in compact masses
were moved bown by the allied gun
fire. Wave succeeds wave in the Il
tack and when Il position is tinall
taken by the enemy. 1t is frequentl'
promptly retaken by the French Ia
these counter attacks the French in
var;ahly find the ground Uttered with
German dead. the bodies often lyin"
In heaps.
The Germans. 1t is estimated. had
used between twenty and thirty dIyiS-
ions. As the CnCEy'S advance is slow.
he is able 10 hrir@ un his light artil-
lery. while his heavier guns are still
heing fired from their old positions.