The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1918-06-03
FRENCH RETAKE TOWNS
Who Deliver Smashing Blows to the
Horde Of Hunes Now Trying TO
Gain Paris and the Channel.

London, June 2-"North of the
Marne Chateau Thierry has been
cleared of the enemy" says today's
German War Office announcement.
A Franco-American depot at Ferre
en- Tardenois has been captured, adds
the statement.
On the Ourcq, the German state
ment also says, the French were
thrown back, the Germans capturing
the heights of Passey and Courch-
amps.
A hot battle was raging across the
Marne late today between the French,
who, reports from Paris said, firmly
are entrenched in the western suburbs
of Cheateau Thierry, and the Germans
who have taken foothold in the
northeastern suburbs.
French troops last night smashed
repeated German attacks of the great
est violence in the sector north of the
River Aisne, between the Disc River
and scissors, the French War Office
announced today.
Mont De Choisy, after being attack
ed four times by forces of the German
Crown Prince, finally was stormed,
only to be lost again to the invaders
at the point of the bayonet.
On the front between scissors and
Chateau -Thierry the Germans occu-
pied Longport, Corey. Faverolles and
Longpont, Corey, Faverolles and
Troenes but later were driven out by
French counter-attacks.
On the Rheims Dormans front bitter
fighting is taking place and the Ger
mans have crossed the high road east
of -Tardenois.
The mass of German reserves is be-
lieved to be between the Marne and
Ourcq Rivers, where the fighting to-
day was more desperate than proba-
bly, any combat in this war.
Having established themselves on a
line from near La Ferte-Milon to
Priez- Monthiers- Etripilly- Chateau
Thierry, the Germans evidently are
! trying for a massed thrust against the
important rail center of Meauz ION the
Marine, q miles east-northeast of
Paris.)
The Germans are following the tao
tics of evading those points where
they must meet stout resistance. Find
ing such opposition, they Immediately
throw their masses elsewhere. They
refuse to fight for positions where the
defense is strong.
This line of procedure markedly is
in contrast with their tactics at Yer
dun two years ago, where for six
months they bulled their heads
against the two-mile sector from Dou-
aumont to Ft. Vaux.
The German encircling attempt
against Rheims is being maintained
fiercely. Hot fighting RACES for Ft
De Pompelle, on the Vesle.
Henry Bidou, noted French mill
tary critic, says today.
"a complete stabilization has not
been brought about, but there is a
marked halt in the German push. II
we compare the present drive with
the March offensive we should still
give Foch until Monday about mid
night to obtain decisive result"
With the best troops at their COM
mand the German commanders are
employing every strategy and the bat
tie on the left wing is being contested
with a bitterness hitherto unknown.
On the wing between Rheims and
Chateau-Thierry the enemy is held
say Paris advices. while between Sois-
sons and the Marine the French resist
ance is becoming victorious.
The Germans continue to pour new
divisions into the battle. No doubt
now remains that they intended to
make their supreme effort on the
Marine. rather than In the offensive
toward Amlens. which was started in
March.
There are IS divisions on the Soils
sons-RheIms battle area, among them
are the best trained troops In the Ger
man army. attlred In special uniforms
and following new offensive methods.
Fifteen OF these divisions we're among
General Won Hutier's 2S divisions In
the March drive toward AmIens.
The Germans made q desperate Of
fort 10 capture Rheims by an encir-
cling movement They temporarily
occupied ~ Ia Pompslle. but we're
.