Evening star., 1918-06-15
Allied Strategy and Tenacity
Have Checkmated Heavy
German Blows.
ENEMY REFORMING
SHATTERED DIVISIONS
No Indications That Boche Is
Ready to Renew Offensive at
Scenes of Latest Fighting.

Allied strategy and tenac1ty
in combat have again check
mated blows by massed bodies
CT German troops, and the Ger
man crown prince has given up
his second offensive within a
month without either of them
having affected seriously the
general situation on the west
ern front. Except for artillery
duels a lull has come to the
fighting sectors, but a new
enemy assault is expected soon.
In the offensive which began
last Sunday, the Germans used
i:.rge masses of troops on a
short front. For three days
they gained ground, and were
rapidly forcing their way south
ward along the Aisne. French
resistance stiffened, and then
the French took the offensive.
German efforts to strike south
of the Aisne and reach the Olse
south of Compiegne also failed
after slight gain.
Reforming Divisions.
Friday there was no infantry fight
ing of moment anywhere along the
front from Ypres to Rheims. which is
now the vital section of the western
line. The Germans, madc no further
attempts and are probably reforming
the divisions shattered by the French
resistance Of the past week.
South of the Somme and between
the Aisne and the Marine the artillery
fire has been above normal, but there
are no indications that the Germans
are prepared to renew their offensive
on either sector. Military observers,
believing that the Noyon- Montdidier
effort was feint to occupy the allies.
come soon on the Picardy field. with
the enemy again attempting to sep
arate the French and the British and
reach the coast.
Berlin reports the number of guns
captured since May 81 by the crown
the Germans gained 180 square miles
of territory and captured $4,000 prts-
oners and $50 guns. the poorest show
ing in any of the four major move
ments since March 21.
Only Artillery Actions.
PARIS, June 1.-THE artillery on
both sides was active last night on
the front between Montdidier and the
River Disc, the war Office announced
today.
The gunfire was also rather marked
in the region south of the Aisne and
west of Rheims, in the Champlat-
BliEny sector. No infantry actions
occurred. The statement says:
During the night there was great
activity between the opposing arttl-
leries between Montdidier and the
Disc, south Of the Aisne and also
west Of Rheims in the region Of
Champlat and Bligny.
French patrols operating in the
Champagne sector captured prisoners.
"The night was calm on the other
portions of the front"
Last Nights Report.
= The French official communication,
ISSUED this evening. follows:
There was no infantry action dur
ing the day. The artillery fighting
was rather lively in the Hangard
wood. to the south of the Aisne and
in the region between villers-Cotter-
cts and Chateau Thierry.
The day was calm everywhere else.
ITO the material captured from the
enemy on the 11th of June should be
added nine guns. including seven
heavy ones. and forty Jnachine guns.
"Our chasing air sauadrons have
brought down five atrplanes and two
machines have been ps,t out of action.
During the night of June 1914 our
bombing squadrons dropped on estab-
lfshments, stations and cantonments
in the enemy zone nineteen tons of
explosives, causing important dam
age."
Heavy Check for Germans.
PARIS, June l5.-Despite a slight
advance the German offensive, COM
msnced June 9. will prove to have been
q heavy check to the enemy. says
Henry Bidou. in the Journal des
Debats. Continuing. he says:
"It - evident that the enemy's OBJ
jectives were undoubtedly Com
piegne and the villers-C -Cotterets line,
in order to reach beyond the forest
on the left wing and obtain a base for
future operations against Paris There
10 no doubt that the battle may be
considered one lost by the enemy
the Germans having only the doubt
full satisfaction OF a slight advance
IN the center. for which precious
divisions were sacrificed ruthlessly
The check. however, Is merely mo-
mentary. We must expect the Ger
mans to make other attempts, as they
are in q great hurry to reach thefr
goal, which, owing to decreased forces
and shortening time, appears as far
away as ever"
Germans May Hesitate.
. ~ he Associated Press.
WITH THE FRENCH ARMY IN
FRANCE. June 14.-Only small
local actions have occurred along the
: battle front since last night, and /,
appears scarcely possible that the
Germans will recommence seriou.
Montdidier-Noyon. Their offensiv.
for the capture Of Compiegne, with
+ the eyentuality of making further
progress toward Paris from the basl
that they hoped to attain there, may
be regarded an having met q bloody
CONTINUED on Second PaseJ