Arizona republican., 1918-06-11
TITANIC BATTLE MOST SEVERE IN
 HISTORY 0F WAR
Germans Use Dense Massed Infantry to Force Their
 Foes Back In Effort to
 Force Their Way to Disc

WITH THE FRENCH ARMY IN FRANCE, June 10.-(By the Associ- ated Press. noon)-Fighting in this war probably never has been more se- were than that going on today in the great battle of French and German ar mics between Montdidier and Noyon.
 The Germans attacking on ground where the entente allies were ready to receive the shock, have found them selves thrown into a slaughter house whence most of them never will make an exit.
 When the German infantry began coming over in the densest masses they encountered immediately an eX- tremely hot fire from both machine guns and artillery, which moved them down. Ever since, as fresh waves en- tered the conflict, they were subjected to similar punishment.
 Retire as They Planned
 The German progress must not be taken to mean that the German force. have overcome the defenders, who in- tended from the beginning to retire to their actual lines of combat as soon as the action developed.
 Some idea of the determined nature of the fighting may be gathered from the struggle of each wing. The vil- lage of Courcelles changed hands num- erous times and when this dispatch was sent, was in the possession of the allies. At the other end of the line, Mont Renaud was still making a mag nificent defense, and last reports showed that Le Plemont was yet in allied hands.
 Strive For River Battle The center. about Reasons Sur MatZ, where the Germans made their most obstinate effort and formed pocket tending southeastward. is the only part of the line against which the Germans have been able to report a real gain. Their intention is to trySto reach the banks of the Disc and threat en the allied salient which extends to the vicinity of Noyon.
 The Germans knew when they opened the attack that their task would be difficult Therefore, they sent into the fray only chosen divis- | ions which had been specially trained | for the assault. It is estimated that l they engaged approximately twenty l divisions on the front line for the first shock, while behind these. ready to | take the place of the exhausted di- visions, there probably were a similar number, perhaps even greater.
 Hun Fails in Objection
 At the conclusion of the first "A hours of the new battle between Mont didier and the Disc the impression gained is that the powerful German smash has not brought the enemy the result he expected. The allied line bent in the center quite insignificantly and the resistance the French are opposing o the actual position of the combat appears to be efficacious.
 Extreme violence was the dominant note of the battle on the first day and desperate assaults with huge masses of troops seem likely to continue at least for some days.
 Front Lines Lightly Held
 With the concentration of troops such as the Germans had been enabled to bring into line at the point chosen for the a ack, it was physically inn possible for the defenders to resist in their advanced positions.
 When the masses of German infan- try came over, the entente allied troops spreaa lightly in the forward works fell back coolly, fighting ward by yard to the actual line of resistance They held back the enemy just sufficiently tc make him show his strength and tc permit the main body of defenders tC make the proper disposition to meet him.
 Gives at Only One Point
 Only at one point was the real French line forced to recede and thai was in the neighborhood of Reasons. Sur MatZ.
 After the German infantry had l started, four hours of the most intense fighting had brought them only partly across the allied advance zone. They were battered thoroughly by the allied artillery whose target was so plaiT that the enemys losses must have been frightful with very little to com. pensate him for his sacrifices. Allies Know Their Ground Every foot the enemy advances nov brings him farther into territory whici is thoroughly we'll known to the allie. and prepared for defense. Therefore I his task becomes momentarily nor, difficult.
 ! The allied staffs are prepared t, meet every eventuality and display thu most perfect confidence in the out come.