Evening journal., 1918-06-01
FOE wins rs MILES
IN LAST 4 DAYS
Crown Princes Forces At
lacking Chateau Thierry
on Rivers Right Bank
RHEIMS'S FALL
SEEMS CERTAIN

LONDON, June THE Germans, In
their Champagne offensive In France,
have reached the right bank Of the
River Marine. on a ten mile front.
The statement by the general staff
says the Germans have not yet entered
Chateau Thierry. but that they are at
lacking heavily there and 10 the north
ward The announcement, which is
said 70 express the opinion OF the Cen
eral stan, continues:
The situation around Rheims is not
quite clear, but II II Is not already lost
Il seems clear 10 must fan very soon.
Yesterday the French were driven back
10 line from Noyon TO SCISSORS.
"A new development is the German
attempt 10 extend their attacks 10 the
east Of Rheims. where they were re-
ported to be attacking last night, but
no further details have yet been re-
csived.
The situation Is a very anxious one,
not only because the Germans have
made such rapid progress-an advance
OF twenty-six miles in four days-but
also because they stu have such large
reserves available 10 be thrown into the
battle al any point.
Our transport OF reserves has worked
very well and there is reason 10 hope
that the Germans will not make any
further progress, although the situation
must remain anxious as long as they
have plenty OF reserves.
The immediate future depends on
what course the enemy takes. The
Crown Prince has used up virtually all
his own reserves and some from the
army groups 20 the eastward. but the
great bulk Of the German reserves are
TO the north. u remains 10 be seen
whether the enemy will use them 20 de-
velop his success toward Paris or pur-
sue his original intention In striking
toward Amiens, with view 10 cutting
the allied armies in two.
The attack during the past week has
not been so serious as other attacks al
other points In the Allied line because
we have more room for manoeuvre and
can better afford TO fall back. Another
thing that must always be considered
Is that the Germans are rapidly usinE
Up their electives. Thus far the!
have employed probably forty-lve d.
visions In the present attack.
"The question has been much dis
cussed in the last few days whethe
this German attack was a surprise &
the Allies. II cannot be called a com
plete surprise because Of the fact tina
enemy concentrations in the Laon are
were known. but until a day or tw
before the battle we had no indicatlo
that an attack on q big scale was II
: tended
THE Germans deserve full credit Z,
maintaining secrecy OF their plans. IT.
main masses men were brought up
the actual front lines only on q
night before The attack. which VI
z preceded by only two hours Of Dor
: bsrdment for the purpose Of cuttii
{ wire entsnglements. The Germans o
! not making the same use OF artillery
y heretofore. They are using trenl
mortars In large numbers for wire Gu
ting
rs this the enemy's main attach
70 "He probably did not know wh'
he initiated Il whether 70 would pro-
10 be a subsidiary or leading operatio
II must be remembered that the enem
has three great geographical OBJECTIVE
as means toward his great objective
destroying the Franco-British armies
the Channel ports. separation Of the A
lied armies by an attack throug
lAmiens and an attack on Paris.
"In the present operations he is do
ing all possible 30 develop his initia
success by attacks both on the centr
and on the TANKS Of the salient. He ma
achieved considerable success In tn
centre but on the TANKS the French ar
holding well on the heights west o.
scissors and the British are similarl!
nghtlng hard on the heights AROUND
Rheims.
NO review Of the last week would
be complete without mention Of the
fine exploit OF the American troops In
the capture Of Cantigny. II was an
extremely well conducted operation
and in view Of the fact that the troops
were untried 70 is notable that they no
only captured their objective but held
10.
1T is always much more dinicut u
consolidate and retain position than
capture H. and the performance OF M
Americans shows theirvery high stand
ard. as well as their training, bravery
and lighting qualities"