The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-06-13
FRENCH HURL
ENEMY BACK
TO NORTH OF
MATT RIVER
Germans Come to Halt on
Battle Field of the Oise-
French Line is Re-establish-
ed.
U. S. FORCES HOLD own
tBy Associated Press.)


German forces, which succeed
ed in crossing the Matz river to
the west of the Disc, on the bat
tie front south of Noyon held
their positions there for but
brief period. French troops,
counter attacking the enemy
have hurled him back to the
north bank of the river and
checked his advance toward
Compeigne.
The news from the scene of
the tremendous struggle, as told
in official statements, shows
that on the field west of the Oise
the Germans have come to halt
for the present at least.
The enemy has not renewed
his attacks on the line from
Courcelles to Antheuil, where on
Tuesday a brilliant counter at
tack of the French swept the in
vaders back and re-established
the French line on the plateau
overlooking the center of the
German position. This position
is most embarrassing to the Ger
mans for it places many of their
most important lines of COM
munication under the direct fire
of the French artillery.
Farther east the Germans
similarly have not continued
their advance toward the Aronde
river.
Compeigne Is Menaced
The crossing of the Matz river by
the Germans Tuesday night constiiut-
ed very serious threat to Compeisne.
IL also tended to weaken the French
positions on the cast side of the Disc
| river. The French success in driving
| the enemy back across the Natz,
| therefore, is cheering news for the
allies. The French are now strongly
posted on the south bank of the Matt
East of the Disc. the French have
Withdrawn their lines south of The
Ourscamp and Carlepont forests, but
are protecting the Laigue forests
along a line which is very strong.
Ihls change In the line was expected
since the Germans occupied Ribecourt
on the west bank of the Disc.
The attack on the front southwest
or Soissons Is making ground but the
progress is apparently too slow for the
Germans to realize their plan to dig
in behind the Compeigne forests and
outfank the French positions farther
north. In the fighting so far the Ger
mans have made less than a mile
along a front three miles in extent
from south Of AmbIeny to st Pierre.
Aigle
Attack American Line.
Inc Germans realize evidently the
danger to them in the Chateau Thietry
sector near the Marne, and have made
a violent attack against the line held
Dy tne American troops northwest OF
that city The Americans have held
tnelr ground and have repulsed the
enemy with heavy losses
In the Flanders salient the Rri,ish
and French have been active The
former have improved their positions
near Merris, on the western angle of
the battle line there, while the French
nave extended their lines near Yprs.
German progress along the Disc river
is being counter-b balanced by French
gains on the western wing Of the
battle front, which now has been ex-
tended TO northeast of Villers-Co;ter-
cts 1he heaviest fighting is taking
place along the line from Rubescourt
10 the Juncture of the Matz and the
Olse, with the French having the ad
vantage on most of the sector.
French Withdraw, Unobserved
FROM Rubescourt to Pommiers fs
almost so miles but in the centre be-
tween the Disc and the Aisne rivers
where the French have retired tn
new line through Bailly, Tracy-Le-vaI
and Namposl. there has been no fight
ing. the French withdrawal having
been carried out unobseryed. The
struggle northeast of Villers-C Cotterets
where the Germans apparently are at
tempting to force a passageway be-
tween the natural defenses of the
Retz forest and the forest of Com
plegne. has not yet developed the
great bitterness of the battle west of
the Disc.
Although the enemy keeps up his
desperate struggles west Of the Disc
he has been unable to gain excent at
the 1uncture of the Disc and the Matt
where he has crossed to the southern
bank of the Matz and occupied Melt
cocq. about 5 miles north of Com
pfegne. In the centre around Antheui,
all German attempts have been broke,
up.
French Gain Ground.
On the left. the French have gained
additional ground, despite strong Ger.
man counter attacks between Be,jov
and st. Maur and have taken 400 ad-
ditional prisoners. The fighting along
this front continues to be of the most
sanguinary character.
No engagements have yet developed
along the new French line east of the
O1se. The French retirement vas
made necessary because the German
guns dominated the forests south and
east OF the Disc. The French fine
now lies in front of the forest of
Laigue, which is Immediately north
OF the forest of Compiegne
fContinued On oaoA TAo7