The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1918-05-31
HUNS Make GAINS
IN LATEST drive
Allies Suffer Setback in Los
of Ground in C~hemin-des-
Danes Sector.
BATTLE ON FRONT Of Is MILES.
Germans Claim Capture Of 5000 Prls-
oners-Americans in First Drive
Take Village From Huns

London. May 2S.-The reports from
the battle fields Of France tonight,
both official and unofficial, show that
the Allies have again suffered a set
back. whereby. they have lost all the
ground in the Chemin Des Danes re-
gion so calamity won by the French
in the great struggle from April to
October, 1917.
The enemy has driven a wedge into
the Allied line on a front Of some
twenty-five miles and at last reports
the tremendous battle was still con
tinuing about Fismes, which is the
center Of important allied communal
cations. French reserves, however,
were arriving to contest a further adj
vance at this point.
Up to the present, according to Ger
man claims, $4,000 prisoners have
been taken. 1t is stil %uncertain
whether the Germans intended this
attack as a resumption Of their full
scale offensive. The fact that only
from twenty to twenty-five divisions
have been engaged is held to Indicate
that It was not a main attack, but
was originally intended to attract AL
lied forces from before Amiens and
that the major operation would be at
tempted elsewhere.
Allies outnumbered.
The great German military machine
is in full motion along the twenty-mile
front in the Aisne river sector be-
tween Vailly and Berry Au Bac and,
greatly outnumbered, the British and
French everywhere are giving ground.
According to the German official
communications towns and
villages in the fighting zon have been
taken by the enemy and $4,000 Allied
troops already have been made pris-
oners,
Americans In Successful Drive.
Washington, May 29.-American
troops in Picardy attacked this morn.
ing on a front OF one and a quarter
miles, captured the village of Can
tigny, took 200 prisoners and inflicted
severe losses in killed and wounded
on the enemy. says General Persing 5
aommunique. made public tonight at
the war department.
The American casualties were rela-
lively small.
"A Preliminary Attack.
With the British Army in France,
May 2S.-Launching a heavy often
siye at dawn today against the French
in the Locre Voormezeele sector, the
Germans failed of their detectives at
virtually all points. AT some points
the defending patrols were driven in,
but In vigorous attacks threw the Ger
mans back at most places. Virtually
the entire French line was re-estab-
lished.
Today's attack was perhaps prelimi-
nary to larger operations. and appar-
emily has been undertaken for the pur-
pose Of regaining the high ground
which the French wrested from the
enemy May 20. Such positions as
Bruloose and ~neighboring places
would be valuable il the Germans
were to develop a general attack In
this region later.
It Is interesting to note In connec
ton with today's drive in Flanders
that the Germans considered their at
tacks on the Lys front in April to be
a failure. according to prisoners. II
Is stated that, while some troops have
been congratulated for the way they
fought, they have been told that theil
failure was the result OF bad stat
work. The general was relieved.
Americans Fight Rravely.
American Headquarters on tn
l French Trout. May 2S.-Three heav,
: German raids were made against thu
American positions in Picardy be
tween 6 and 9 O'clock this morning
and we're repulsed with heavy losses
, to the enemy. The Americans tool
a number Of prisoners.
The Germans advanced fifty stronl
IN the center and 100 on the RICH
and 100 on the left. They we're driver
off speedily and left many dead &
mont OF the American trenches.
The assaults we're preceded BY vic
lent bombardments OF the entir
American line during which Il Is es
tlmated 10000 shells. many OF Their
gas shells. we're fired BY the enemy
For a time there was fierce hand-tE
hand fighting. The Germans took on
American prisoner. but his comrade
pursued the enemy and recapturo
him.