The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1918-06-13
HUNS MAKE GAINS
IN LATEST DRIVE
Allies Suffer Setback in Loss
of Ground in Chemin-des-
Danes Sector.
BATTLE ON FRONT OF rs NILES
Germans Claim Capture of 5000 Pris.
oners-Americans in First Drive
Take Village From Huns.


the battle fields of France tonight,
both official and unofficial, show that
the Allies have again suffered e 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 10
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 communi-
cations French reserves, however,
were arriving to contest z further ad-
vance at this point
Up to the present, according TO Ger
man claims. $1,000 prisoners have
been taken It is still 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 VaiIly and Berry Au Bac and,
greatly outnumbered, the British and
French everywhere are giving ground
According 10 the German official
communications numerous towns and
villages in the fighting zone have been
taken by the enemy and $4,000 Allied
troops already have been made pTis-
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's
communique, made public tonight al
! the war department.
The American casualties we're Tela,
lively small
A Preliminary Attack.
With the British Army in France,
May 2S.-Launching a heavy often
siYe at dawn today against the French
N the Locre Voormezeele sector, the
Germans failed of their detectives at
/ virtually all points. At some points
/ the defending patrols were driven in.
I 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 preIimi.
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 %. Such positions as
BrulOose and neighborfng places
would be vsluable if 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
lacks 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 their
failure was the result OF bad staff
work. The general was relieved.
Americans Fight BraveGy.
American Headquarters on ths
French Front, May 2S.-Three heavy
German raids were made against the
American positions in Picardy be-
tween 6 and o'clock this morning
and we're repulsed with heavy losses
to the enemy. The Americans took
a number Of prisoners
The Germans advanced fifty strong
In the center and 16O on the right
and 40 on the left. They were driven
Off speedily and left many dead In
front OF the American trenches.
The assaults we're preceded by VIC
lent bombardments Of the entire
American line during which it is es-
timated 10000 shells, many Of them
gas shells. were fired by the enemy.
For g time there was fierce hand-to-
hand fighting The Germans took one
American prisoner, but his comrades
pursued the enemy and recaptured
him