Evening star., 1918-07-18
Attacking the Huns Flank.

Attacking the Huns Flank.
Having failed to drive French and
American forces to the southern bank
Of the Marne from Chalons sur Marne
to Chateau Thierry, the Germans now
are beset with new dangers, q situa-
ton which may undo all that they have
80 far been able to accomplish in that
region lying to the south Of Scissors
and Rheims. The French armies have
struck forcibly along the western side
of the salient all the way from the
Aisne to Belleau, just north of Chateau
Thierry. According to late advices
they have swept forward mile and
q half to two miles in some places.
Unquestionably the operations here
will have vital influence on the tides Of
battle on the western side Of the sail.
ent, where in the region Of Pourcy and
Courton wood the Germans are vicious
1y endeavoring to press farther to the
south Of Rheims and interrupt the line
Of allied communications with Eper-
nay.
German efforts continue along either
bank Of the Marne, where Teutonic
forces have in a series of local actions
been able to draw nearer Epernay, as
for a, Ua,&.,,;l m <ba nor%borp honk
and Montvoisin on the south bank.
French forces remain firm in the
Champagne region, where further Ger
man attacks have been delivered un-
successfully, and Gen. Pershing an
nounces that in that section held by
the Americans in the general region
of Fossoy the enemy has been cleared
from the southern bank of the Marne.
Should the present drive of the
French be continued on a great scale
and further progress be scored there
is a possibility that their gains will
force the Germans to evacuate their
positions, not only south of the Marne,
but in all territory held by them to
the south of Rheims and Scissors. The
French. however, before the enemy
would be forced to make such moves,
would have to score greater gains than
are go far recorded. Under any cir
cumstances marked progress for the
French will bring German communi-
cations Immediately within range of
the ordinary allied artillery, and the
enemy will have extremely great diff
crlty in clinging to present positions
along tine Marne. unless he should sue
ceed in the Champagne and drive for
ward to tine river from that section Of
the battle front, contingency which
is decid,dly remote in view of strenu-
Gus French resistance.
The Germans undoubtedly will be
forced to divert much Of their strength
from tasks at hand in order to combat
the new danger from the French to
the west. Success in doing so will
alone save the general tactical and
strategical plans of the Teutonic COM
mand. Even minor local successes
which they now seem bent on achieving
will be nuHcd.
The battles of the past week have
revealed the increasingly great allied
power At no time in the war hereto
fore have they been able to resist Ger
manic offensive endeavors successfully
without moving troops from other Sec
tions of the long western battle line
In the past week their reserves al
ready in the areas of battle have been
sufficient to hold the Teutons back.
That the French have been able to
begin an offensive on such a large
scale in face of stubborn enemy ag-
gression in other areas further indi-
Gates that the allied armies are ready
for any contingency, in either often
sive or defensive warfare.