Evening star., 1918-06-20
DEFEAT OF GERMANS
AT RHEIMS COMPLETE
Exhaustion of Crown Prince s
Army Seen in Failure to Gain
in Latest Effort.
By the Associated Press.

the official statement issued today.
There was nothing of Importance on
the rest of the front. The statement
reads:
"French detachments penetrated the
enemy lines between Montdidier and
the Disc in the region of the Chaume
wood. We brought back twenty pris-
oners. Quiet reigned on the rest of
the 'front.'"
Germans Appear Exhausted.
The sanguinary defeat suffered by
the Germans before Rheims Is pointed
to by the morning newspapers as an
excellent augury for the allies in the
operations to come. The military ex-
perts, the Havas Agency notes, are
displaying particular satisfaction over
the outcome. regarding it as further
proof of the exhaustion of the crown
princes army, which is showing itself
incapable of prolonged efforts.
The commentators. however, do not
seek to minimize the ability displayed
by the defenders. and point particu-
iarly to the remarkable artillery bar
rage fire, the notable resistance OF the
infantry and the Irresistible counter
attacks of the brave colonial troops
under Gen. Gouraud.
"Eeyer did so important an attack
fail so completely" the Petit Journal
remarks.
German Aeros Leveled.
PARIS, June 1s.-The war Jeftice an
tonight says:
aThere was no event OF Timportance
during the course Of the day.
our sir squadrons brought
down Of put out OF action six Ger
man airplanes and set fire to one cap
dropped ten tons Of projectiles last
night on railway stations, canton
ments and bivouacs in the region of
Villers FranQuex, Faverolles and
Fismes."
British Raiders Active.
LONDON, June 20.-British raiding
parties were active in several sectors
along the front last night, taking
prisoners and inflicting losses upon
the Germans in numerous clashes. the
war office announced today.
The statement says:
"a number Of raids were carried
out by us last night In the neighbor-
Lens and G1venchy and in the Stra-
zeele and Ypres sectors Tin Flanders).
Certain Of these enterprises led to
sharp fighting, in which the enemy
suffered many casualties. We cap
tured eighteen prisoners and three
machine guns"
I'm the neiehborhood Of Morlan-
court northeast of Amiens) a hostile
raiding party was as. caught aug by our ar
Hostile artillery activity developed
during the night north of Albert and
in the La Bassee canal sector.
Aerial Operations.
LONDON. June 19.-The official
statement on aerial operations to-
night says:
"It was cloudy Tuesday. but we
were able to get observation. In tho
air fghting we destroyed fifteen Ger
man machines and disabled five.
Eight Of ours are missing.
nineteen tons Of bombs were drop
ped in the course of the day. A heavy
rain at night prevented flying"
Field Marshal Haig reports tonight
as follows from the British front:
"1n a successful raid we captured
Tuesday night northeast of Bethune.
ION Wednesday morning a hostile
raiding party was repulsed with loss
east of Hebuterne. The hostile artil-
lery was somewhat more active We'd
nesday in the Albert sector. in the
lake."
Battle for Rheims.
WITH THE FRENCH ARMY IN
FRANCE, June 19.-Large units of
German shock troops which had been
concentrated on the western side of
Rheims between Vrigny and Ornes
and which went over to assault last
night were met with such an awful
fire from the French defense that they
progress
They suffered such losses after try
ing time after time to reach the
French positions that only a few of
the attackers were able to return to
their own lines.
When the Germans launched their
attack in full force on Rheims their
intention was to deal heavy counter
blow to compensate for their failure
to capture Compiegne. Forty thou
sand trops participated in the assault
SlHss Vrteny s plateau auto to siiiery. With ron ON
ders to carry the city at all costs,
They met with dismal defeat.
Repulsed Everywhere.
At every point they were repulsed
with heavy losses. In a most gallant
manner the French troops prevented
the enemy from scoring even an in
itial success. The artillery prepara-
ton lasted for several hours and was
one of the most terrific yet carried
out. High explosives from hundreds
Of cannon intermingled with numer-
Gus poison gas shells.
To the east of Rheims the Germans
at first made some advance. but were
soon thrown back to their Original
positions, and considerable number
of them were taken prisoner.
At noon today the gunfire was still
very heavy. but the attack may for
the moment be regarded as com
plete defeat for the attacking forces
Four Separate Columns.
Tho attack on Rheims was executed
by four separate columns Of troons
The 6rst converging on Zouayes
CONTINUED on Second Page.1