Mexico Missouri message., 1918-06-20
BY EDWARD w. PIcKARD.

by EDWARD w. PICKARD.
Last week witnessed a renewal of
the kaiser's drive on the west front,
but to the surprise of everyone not in
the confidence of the German high
command, the blow was directed, not
against the allies in Flanders, nor
against their lines in the Amiens re-
gion, but in Champagne. His appar-
ent intention was to rush his forces
swiftly on Paris, breaking through
where the allies were weakest. The
location was well chosen and the prep
aratiOnS made with wonderful secrecy,
but up TO the hour of writing the re-
cults were, as In the former drives. not
comparable with the losses sustained.
The apex Of the drive had advanced
Some is miles beyond the starting line,
reaching Vezilly, six miles from the
Marne and A miles from Paris. The
famous Chemin des Danes had been
taken, as had Craonne, Vailly, Fismes
and other towns and villages, and
finally, on the west side of the new
salient, the allies retired from SOis-
sons. But by that time General Foch's
reserves were arriving in large num-
bers and the desperate efforts Of the
Germans to widen the salient were
stubbornly resisted and virtually
checked. In the suburbs of Scissors
the French were holding onto the west
ern outlets from that city, and north
west of Reims, on the east side of the
wedge, the Franco-B British forces were
repulsing every Hun assault.
The commanders OF the allies viewed
the situation with calm confidence and
seemed to have no doubt that they could
stem the onrush of the Germans long
before they reached the neighborhoOd
of Paris. They were not yielding a
foot Of ground easily or cheaply, but
were pursuing their former policy of
retiring In good order before vastly su-
perior numbers, maintaining their line
intact and sparing their reserves as
much as possible.
III
The German armies selected for this
third drive were those of the crown
prince, though they are commanded
really not by that degenerate son of
the kaiser, but by Generals Won Boehm
and Won Below. About thirty divisions,
with large drOves of tanks and much
artillery, were brought up to the Che
min des Danes front in the nights and
kept concealed in the daytime so that
the allied aviators had no inkllng that
the long expected attack was TO be
made there. Facing the 80 divisions
were nine French and four British di.
visions to stop the Germans when they
began their attack on Monday between
Coucy and Reims, after terrific bonn,
bardment with gas and high explosive
shells. They forced their way down
TO the AisRe the first day, and even
crossed that river at some points
Next day they made further advance
Of some five miles, reaching the VeslC
river and forcing a crossing at Fismes
but already they were being slowed up
and on the fianks they were able tC
make little progress. Wednesday they
directed great masses of troops at Sois
sons. and the French and British there
after exacting a fearful price In lives
withdrew TO the western environs
Meanwhile the German center was
pushed forward To Fere-en-Tardenois
and vezilly. On Thursday the entire
allied line was reported to be holding
well. aud thereafter the Huns made
slow and difficult progress, or none al
all.
-E-
FOch's arrangements for handling
Ads reserves proved excellent, and the