The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-06-01
New Attacks Develop in Ef.
fort to Connect SOmme and
Marne Battlefields.
FRENCH MAKING STAND
Crown Prince Able to Make
Little Progress South
west of SOissOns.
RHEIMS ALSO STILL HELD
Reserves Rapidly Thrown Into
the Line, Yet Days Gain
Is 8 1-2 Miles.
RHEIMS ALSO STILL HELD

i"NuSN, MAY Ot - lie NeIIldHS
pushed forward with renewed visor
and strongly augmented forces to-day
and reached their first immediate OBJ
jective. the Marne River. which affords
natural highway to Paris down its
broad and level valley. Late tonight
the Germans are reported to be at
Chateau Thierry and Dormans, and on
the stretch between Of about ten miles.
Heavy fighting Is in progress at both
places. Chateau Thierry. which is on
the north side Of the stream, is only
forty five miles from Paris.
Only weak German forces reached
the north bank Of the Marne. says
the French night report, between
Charteves and Joulgonne.
Berlin tonight reports that the
number Of prisoners taken is now
more than $4,000. in addition to more
than 400 heavy guns and thousands OF
machine guns.
Have Not Crossed Marne.
The Germans have not crossed the
Marne at any point. On the south
ern bank French reserves in large
numbers are holding commanding po-
Atons while all the bridges have been
blown up for many miles from Cha.
teau Thierry. To the northwest OF
Chateau Thierry the Germans are fol-
and are reported TO have reached
Neuilly, evidently with the intention
Of attempting to drive between the
Marne and the great wooded district
| surrounding Nillers Cotterels. which
affords strong defensive positions to
the French holding the line southwest
OF Scissors.
Operations OF hardly less importance
are In progress also on the western
end Of the line, northwest of Soissons.
where the French have been forced to
retire from the Ailette River. opening
the way to the Oise and the old Somme
salient. the south side of which runs
through Lassigny and Noyon. Appar-
! emily the German plan is to connect
the Marne and the Somme salients
preparatory to an attack in great force
on the front before Amiens in the hope
OF breaking through to the Channel
ports and the estuary Of the Somme.
Reported East Of Rheims.
| In this fighting the honors rested with
the French. The Germans. who had
crossed the Disc east of Sempigny. were
repulsed on the right bank Of the river.
West OF Soissons. Paris reports tonight.
the French delivered vigorous counter
attacks and arrested all the German
efforts incidentally iniicting very heavy
losses.
| On the east. near Rheims, the French
and British In a general way held their
| positions and the menace to the city In
no greater than II ha, been for the last
two days. but one report states that
! fighting has occurred to the east OF
Rheims. This. II true. would indicate
that the Germans are extending their
front TO the east as we'll as to the
west.
Reuters correspondent at French
headquarters. telegraph!ns Friday morn.
ing. says:
There is no sign Of relaxation in the
/
OF gallant resistance, the enemy has been
able to push out his hne north and south
Of Scissors on both sides of the Aisne,
| In tho centre his advanced parties are
still progressing.
| French Line Thinly Held.
Along the whole OF the front de-
tachments Of German infantry are hter-
ing steadily through the woods and along
| the valleys, wherever they can find
weak spot in the thinly held French
| line"
Tho Associated Press correspondent
! with the French army in France says
| that In tho central part Of the battle
front tho enemy. finding that before him
were only tired troops which had fought
day and night since Monday, was able
to make another leap forward toward
the Marne by penetrating tho thin allied
limo with small bodies Of selected men
armed with light machine guns
The battle has now developed almost
purely into an infantry f,sht The ar1il.
lery In action appears 10 be only OF about
| the same amount as is usual on quiet
sector.
South Of Scissors the enemy attempted
a renewal of his push. but came into
contact with French troops. which thrust
him back Notwithstanding his employ