Evening star., 1918-05-28
Allied Line Thin
Where Enemy Drive
Started Yesterday
By the Associated Press.

WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
FRANCE. May 27 monday night).-
As was foreseen. the entente allied
troops were compelled to cede ground
In the Champagne before the massed
German attack. but they retired in
perfect order. The Germans. exc
cutting repetition of their tactics OF
March II, threw overwhelming forces
Which they had brought forward dur
ing the night on to the lightly held
position extending from the westward
end of the Chenim- des-Dames to
At least twenty-five selected Ger
man divisions participated in the on
slaught. Among them were two
guards divisions. The attack was pre-
ceded by the most intense lombard
msnt Of poison gas shells lastiag for
was thinly held by a division of
French and British troops. Meantime
other German divisions attacked from
the Ailette valley, and the small
bodies of allied troops holding the
knife-like ridge decided to fall back
trying to keep an untenable position
in the face Of greatly superior num-
bers.
Everything had been prepared for
such q movement in case OF necessity.
and the troops retired. fighting foot
by foot. until Joined by their reserves
farther back.
Germans Thrown Back.
By the Associated Press.
WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN
FRANCE. May 81. 2 p.m.-Launching
a heavy offensive at dawn today
against the French in the Locre voor-
mezeele sector, the Germans failed Of
their objectives at virtually all points.
At some points the defending patrols
attacks threw the Germans back. at
most places.
Virtually the entire French line was
re-establfshed.
Hard lighting at this hour still con-
tinued on the northern part Of the
battle front. just south Of Dicke-
busch lake the Germans forced their
way into the French line for a dis
tance Of 800 yards and also got into
the front line system at another point
in this region. In both these places
the enemy was clinging desperately
the French were dealing with the
situation, which appeared to be salts
factory at the latest reports. Ono
hundred prisoners already have been
sent oack to the French cages.
German Purpose.
Today's attack was perhaps pre-
liminary to larger operations and ap-
parently has been undertaken for the
purpose of regainfng the high ground
which the French wrested from the
enemy May 20.
Such positions as Bruloose and
neishboring places would be valuable
acquisitions for the enemy II the Ger
mans were to develop q general at
tack In this region later.
1t Is Interesting to note in connec-
ton with today's drive In Flanders
that the Germans considered their
attacks on the Lys front in April to
be q failure, according to prisoners,
It 10 stated that while some troops
have been congratulated for the way
they fought. they have been told that
their failure was the result of bad
stan work. Tho general in command
OF the operations here was relieved
OF his command.
In the Nieuport zone the enemy got
temporary footing in the Belgian
front line in the region of st. Georges.
The Belgians Immediately organised
counter attack, which was delivered
with such vtgor that the invaders
were driven out.
In the Dixmude sector a German
patrol attacked a Belgian post, but
was repulsed by a small patrol, In
the neighborhood Of Boesinghe Ger
man troops. who were preparing to
attack. were caught in the Belsian
artillery barrage and so badly SMASH
ed that tho advance did not develop.
German omciaL Reports.