The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-07-15
CHOSEN ROAD TO
/. PARISFOR DRIVE
Washington Officials Speculate
as to Main Objective of
German Plan.
DELAY SEEMS EXPLAINED
By Employment by Enemy of
Naval Guns for Long
Range Bombardment.
DELAY SEEMS EXPLAINED

Washington, July 1.-THE Ger
mans have selected the road to Paris
for renewal Of their drive. officers here
believed today, judging from early re-
ports on the violent movement which
began at dawn. Whether the effort is
designed actually to be pressed against
the French capital, or to pave the way
for a later assault north of Amiens
on the road to the channel ports, be-
lieved to be the main objective of the
whole German plan. was the subject OF
interested speculation.
The new battle line runs clear
around Rheims in its fifty-mile sweep
from Chateau -Thierry, where the
First and Second divisions are known
to be in line. American troops in the
Jaulgonne sector of the Marne. east OF
Chateau Thierry. are also involved.
Employment Of heavy artillery to
batter towns and communication lines
far beyond the defense line, indicates
that the delayed grand offensive has
been opened. The object of the bonn
bardment is to harass the movement
of supplies and reinforcements to the
danger points. and the careful prep
aration Of the enemy may mean that
he Is ready to keep up the assault for
days or weeks in the effort to drive
through.
Reduction Of Rheims.
Just where the main rorce of the at
tack will fall Is not clear. The apex OF
the German advance on the Aisne
front is at Chateau -Thierry, where the
American First corps now holds the
l.,ft MI nf ha hntt1a limo Pro =
sumably the main objective in this as
sault Is some place to the east of that
point, which lies on the direct road to
Paris.
It is regarded as possible that the
purpose of the attack is to widen still
further the Aisne salient by the re-
duction of Rheims and the forcing
back of the whole southern extremity
of the 1918 battle area. A previous
attack on Rheims was halted In Its
tracks by French and Italian troops
and that plane Is now the center OF a
greatly increased assault. In some
quarters this was taken to mean that
reduction of the Rheims salient is re-
garded as vital to the success of the
German enterprise as a whole.
Extensive employment Of naval
guns for long range bombardment of
the allied rear positions suggests that
1t was the time required to bring up
and emplace these weapons that held
up the German drive.
Bundy in Path Of Advance.
UnternationalS News Service.)
Washington, July 15.-American in
terest in the fifth German drive in
France today was intense. Directly
IN the path Of the advance is supposed
TO be Maj. Gen. Omar Bundy's Second
division, made up Of regular army
forces and the marines. In addition.
other American units undoubtedly are
having part in the battle, which Is
here to develop into a COM
oined attempt to break through to-
wards Paris and to cut the lines of
with the American,
British and Belgian forces In the
lorth.
Officials said today that 1t was far
90 early to forecast the outcome.
they are hopeful. that the line will
lold with only slight recessions. But
t Is pointed out here that this is a
natter for Gen. Foch to determine.
lie has sufficient forces available to
present positions If he be-
ieves it the best policy to pay the
lere who are familiar with the exact
say he can be depended on
o withdraw his men slowly and in
rood order, meanwhile inflicting stu
'endous losses upon the enemy.
Army officers declared that the early |
eports were very reassuring. The |
french war office statement that the !
french are sustaining their positions |
With great gallantry indicates that |
hey have not been ordered to retire. |
will be no surprise to officers here !
o learn that among the other objects |
( the new German advance Is the |
hell-swept city of Rheims. 1t is as
umed here that practically the entire
'irst army corps, which is under the
Of Maj.-Gen. Hunter Lig-
eft will he brought into action in