The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-06-15

Germans Exhausted by Heavy
Slaughter.
BATTLE APPARENTLY ENDED
French HurI Back 10000 of Enemy
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Line.

Paris, June 15.-The sixth day of
Germany'S fourth offensive in the
series aimed to destroy the allied ar
mics finds the Germans once more
exhausted from their efforts and APP
palling losses.
The fourth phase. of Won IUn2em-
burg's mighty attack is apparently
ended
There were only local operations
on all fronts 1t develops that in the
second operation of the attack beg Ill
last Sunday the Germans were ah'c
20 gain only about mile in the d.rrc-
ton of VillerS- COtteretS, In the sector
between the AiSne and the Marine.
Fighting there has ceased. except for
artillery action.
The position of the latest German
effort is described inelegantly. but apt
" by a general who has just arrived
from the front as follows:
"The Germans got a skinfull.
Military commentators in Paris are
unanimous III reporting one more Ger
man failure The enemy has won Il
strip of territory not without value
but has sacrificed for it precious di-
'risions without at any point attaining
his objective and without bringing him
any nearer q decisive result.
Such is also the opinion of Henri
Bidou and Colonel De Thomasson.
who would be the last person to hail
a victory prematurely.
The Havas correspondent at the
front says the Indications are that the
Germans have exhausted themselves
IN the Montdidier-Noyon front, which
fact is compelling their Inactivity
whereas the French are extremely az
tive In this area.
Regarding the German effort TO get
through Villers-C otterets forest he
estimates that the Germans used as
many as five divisions (nearly 10000
men) on a front of three and three
quarters miles and declares that this
opera ton. which was to decide the
issue of the present German offensive,
has already sailed.
In its summary Of the expert opin-
ION the Havas agency notes the unani-
nifty with which the commentators
have abandoned their reserve of the
last few days and agree with NJ. Bar
res, of the Echo de Paris, that the
offensive against Paris Is ended, for
the present at least. they admit the
possibility of its resumption sooner
or later. and see further hard strug-
giles ahead, but think it probable that
the heavy fighting when it Is resumed
within a few days will be on another
front
The results of the offensive against
Paris are enumerated by NJ Barres,
thus: A territorial gain absolutely out
Of proportion to the losses sustained;
Compiegne still in French possession
the allied reserve maneuvering forces
intact
In another article the Echo de Paris
confidently declares that as the Ger
mans did not get to Compiegne, so
they will never get to Paris The en-
envy, it points out, has been mastered
ON ground Of his own choosing.
M. Clemenceau's organ, LHomme
expresses no surprise at the s!acken-
Ing of the battle The enemy, it de-
clares, has engaged about eighty d.
visions since May Il, nearly half of
which left SO per cent of their men
on the battle-ground. 1t expresses the
opinion that General Ludendorff has
q maximum Of thirty reserve divisions
Of which two-thirds have already taken
part In the struggle.