The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-06-02
HUNS BLOW HALF SPENT
Threefold Aim Of the
Kaiser Disclosed By
Weeks Action.
NEW FIGHT SOON
Resistance Offered By
the British Forces At
Rheims Receives
Warm Praise.

mans sprung a surprise attack.
They followed 1t up. Only half
of their reserves have been used.
The battle will soon be renewed.
American troops are the vital
-- factor In this summers fighting.
The Germans took fearful punish
ment at Scissors and Rheims from
allied divisions sent there to
rest"
This is the review of the battle
given out by Lieutenant General
G.. r. G. Bridges, head of the
British military mission In Wash
ington tonight.
General Bridges, however. was
emphatic I'm stating that ne could
make no reliable appreciation of
the situation until news was re-
ccived as to the distribution OF the
German reserves and as to
whether Identification had been
obtained of any divisions being
withdrawn from other sectors of
the front TO take part in the
drive His statement follows:
1.-THE detectives now before the
German now appear to he three
fold.
81. Paris.
g. The division Of the main
allied armies by an advance
through Amiens and.
IS. The capture of the chan
mel ports
The present attack appears TO have
come as a surprise. One of the rea-
sons for this was no doubt that il
was not considered by the allies as a
decisive direction for a major opera
ton because of the possibility on this
sector OF giving an amount of ground
that would be- fatal either at Anieus
or Ypres. The Germans have also
concealed their preparations extreme
ly we'll aided probably by four fac
tors:
II. Their preponderating number
OF divisions.
% The fact that they are work
ing with a good railway system or
interior lines
IS. That there are woods around
Laon in close proximity 10 their first
troops could be brought up by night
and concealed and,
-. That this front has long beer
organized for attack
AS the German commenced this
attack with only sixteen divisions II
would appear that it has been more
successful than they anticipated, II
is probable that ii was at first in
tended either in the nature of a
secondary operation in order to draw
allied reserves from the we'll pro.
tected Amiens salient or to strike 6
heavy blow for the Marne---in order
to cut the main communications be
tween Paris and Chalons-and IL
widen the too narrow Amiens salient
by a fresh operation. The German
higher command probably consider
ed in this case that the presence 81
large forces in front of such vita
points as Ypres and Amiens hat
pinned the bulk of the allied reserves
to these positions.
While they are at present in 8
narrow and dangerous salient the Ger
mans should they be successful fr
pushing out the west leg OF it and
Joining II up TO the Amiens salient
which appears TO he their intention
will be in a favorable position for AR
advance on Paris. The allied com.
mand, however. has not been idle. and
SO far the tanks of the salient seem
to have held well and reserves are
joining up. AS far as penetration
goes. the Germans may he expected
to call halt at the Marine,
1--WE must now be prepared eithe,
to see the offensive resumed in this
north at no distant date or else see
German divisions fHena the north SEN
down TO exploit the new success. I'm
til the movements of reserves have
been established 1t is idle to foreca ST
'1t is to be hoped that division:
engaged have been duly punished as
they certainly have been round
Rheims and scissors. We hear from
London that the three British divi
sions. the eighth. fifteenth and fiftieth
which held the line northwest OF
Rheims. put up magnificent figh'
and even counter-attacked against
vastly superior forces. maintaining al
their positions on the frst day unit
darkness fell when they were obliged
to throw hack their left to conform
with the withdrawal OF the center
These divisions had been sent to this
part of the line for a rest and II IL
understood that they are now heing
replaced by fresh troops.
The allied STATS have recognized
for a long time and II Is now ohviou.
to all that the American troops have
become a vital factor in this battle
and may hold the balance between
defeat and victory and that It is onl,
by brigading them for training with
the French and British that they will
be ready in time to take their part
In any numbers this year. The cry IL
and will be for men, for more men
and for tayonets and yet more
bayonets.
I'VE are told that the morale Of the
people both in Paris and London Ii
unsaken by this somewhat spectacular
thrust OF the Germans and its pos.
sible far-reaching consequences. II
Is at such times that the spirit of the
people at home means q great deal &c
the ARMIES In the field. There are nc