Evening star., 1918-06-19
Attack Centers on
Front From Vrigny
to La Pompelle.
FRENCH NFLICT HUGE
LOSSES UPON ENEMY
Germans Ordered to Take City
at All Costs During the
Night.
R1 the Associated Press.

AN6Ass
By the Associated Press.
PARIS, June 19.-Ihe Ger
mans last night, after violent
preparatory bombardment, be-
gan an attack on the Rheims
front between Vrigny and La
Pompelle, the war Office an
nounced today.
On the western front of the
attack the enemy was not able
even to reach the French line.
In the center, before the city,
the Germans were completely
repulsed and suffered heavy
losses. East of Rheims the
French were equally successful.
The French are resisting the
German blow with entire sue
cess.
Text of Statement.
The statement follows:
Last night at 6 o'clock the Germans
delivered violent preparatory ar
tillery fire along the whole front OF
Rheims from the region Of Vrigny,
west Of the city. as far east as La
Pompelle. At o'clock the enemy in
antry began an attack on the French
positions between these two points.
"The French troops resisted the Ger
man attack with complete success,
the counter sbarrage Of the French
artillery proving very strong.
Between Vrigny and Ormes Ger
man assault troops were stopped by
the French fire and forced to return
many times to their lines OF depar-
ture and were not finally able to reach
the French positions.
"Around Rheims violent combats de-
ve1oped, during the course Of which
the enemy suffered heavy losses and
was everywhere repulsed.
East of Rheims the fighting like
wise ended to the advantage OF the
French. The Germans having been
successful in penetrating the woods
northeast Of Sillery were driven out
by q French counter attack.
prisoners taken in the region OF
Rheims declared that the town was
attacked by three divisions. which
were ordered to take the place at all
costs during the night"
Last Nights Statement.
PARIS. June 1s.-The war Office an.
nouncement tonight says:
"The artillery activity was quit.
spirited northwest Of Montdidier ant
at various points between Montdidiel
and the Aisne.
I'VE carried out this morning &
local attack south of valsery. which
permitted US to improve our posi-
tions; we captured about a hundred
prisoners and some machine guns.
region of Avocourt; sthe enemy lef
dead on the ground. We took a few
prisoners.
'Tn the last five days thirty-twt
enemy machines have been brough
down or compelled to land out Of ac.
tfon. Four German airplanes were
brought down or compelled to lant
out Of action. Four German airplane.
were brought down by our anti-air
craft guns and three captive balloons
were set afire. During the same periot
twenty-five tons of projecttles were
dropped by day and night on the sta
tfons at scissors, Roye. Nesle ant
Chaulnes.
British in Successful Raid.
LONDON, June 1s.-British troop.
last night successfully raided thu
German lines in the region to the
south of Hebuterne. north of Albert
the war Office announced today.
British post recently taken by tn,
Germans near Viex Berquin, on tn,
northern side of the Lys salient, wa.
machine guns being taken in the op
Grafton.
The statement reads:
"A raid attempted by the enemy IL
the Locre sector was repulsed b,
French troops.
'"The hostile artillery was activ,
yesterday evening in the Ancre valley
about Mericourt and during the nigh
has been active in the neighborhoof
Of Merris Flanders 'front.'.
we carried out a successful raid
last night south of Hebuterne
I'm the Vieux Berquin sector q
party of our troops attacked and re-
captured one of the posts taken b,
the enemy in this locality on the
night of June IA. We secured a few
prisoners and two machine guns"
Capture severel Prisoners.
LONDON. June 1s.-The British Off.
cial communication issued this even.
ing says:
I'VE carried out q successful raid
last night north Of Lens. This morn.
ing English troops raided the enc.
mys trenches south Of Hulluch ant
captured several prisoners aftei
strong fighting.
ION the remained of the front ther,
IN nothing to report beyond artiller,
activity on both sides"
German Communication.
BERLIN, via London. June 18th,
war ONCE communication issued to
day says:
iThe enemy's artillery fire has in
creased to great intensity on isolatet
sectors in Flanders, on both sides O
the Lys and between Arras and Al
bert.
Toward midnight, after violen
outbursts of firing, the enemy at
z tackled southwest of Albert. He Wa.
repulsed and left prisoners in oul
Z hands.
Southwest Of Noyon and south O.
the Aisne the artillery activity wa.
Irevived during the evening. Partia
ADVANCES of the enemy north Of tn,
Aisne and northwest OF Chatea,
J Thterry were repuised."