The Washington herald., 1918-06-12
Prussian Staff IL Dire for
Compeigne Hurls Le-
gions to Death.
CENTER AT RIBEC0URT
Foe, Miles Now from Rail
head, May Use Heavy
Ordnance. q.

In the desperate drive for the
railroad center of Compiegne, the
Prussian officers, realizing that
the fate of the crown princes
army in the Marine salient may
hang in the balance, are hurting
their troops to the slaughter with
a reckless abandon equalIed only
by their six months fruitless ef-
tort to win Verdun for the crown
prince in 1910.
Last night the German center
rested at Ribecourt a scant
nine miles from Compiegne, a
distance which will permit of
bombardment of the railroad CEN
ter by heavy ordnance. But the
toll exacted of the attacking
forces gives small reason for fear
hat Compiegne can be taken. As
yet there are no definite figures
of the strength available to the
German attacking force.
Fifty Divisions Ready.
Late figures. however, support the
belief that fifty divisions were Or
gsnized for the drive. Estimates OF
the number OF German divisions used
in the last three days vary, come
well-informed observers placing the
figures at thirty divisions, or approx
/ -, N.N.- Ha nnF aeaHT n
believe. however. that such a great
number as this have been under fire,
although all reports agree that the
German losses have been the great
est for a like period since the Open
ing Of the German offensiNs-&r1Urch-
Granting that the Germans have
eighty divisions available for this Of
fensive, Il is entirely possible that
they can take Compeigne but the use
OF this figure implies that they VIII
, use every reserve division tr"N D. ..
II Is more reasonable to believe that
their man power on the MoutdidicT-
Noyon FROM - limited 70 " 6'ei-
sions. II is also reasonable TO be-
lieve that they hsve used The bCtJCr
half Of these in the advance made TO
date And the remaining nine miles
I to CompeiCne present many natural
obstacles. including much high ground,
and wooded heights. In view Of the
I pressure being created to the east
! on the Marine and the increasing evil
dence that the riiBsh forces 20 the
north are anxious 10 break the front
! opposed to tchm. there is slight reason
, 10 believe that the million and more
men represented by eighty German
divisions can he spared for the opera
I ton now being attempted.
Advices received here Yesterday
state that the French forces are
using machine guns for counter bar
RACES with deadly effect among the
assaultinE parties. Evidence grows
! that in the last few months the al
lies have added TO their stores Of ma
| chine guns greatly. The work of
the American gunners al Cantignv
and al Chateau-Thierry with Their
HotChSiss quick-firers has heen re-
markable. Allied officers who wit
messed the tests OF the BroWniny :
guns at French testing ranges are
confident that the new weapon Will
he even more powerful than the
| Hotchkiss
Crisis Vow On.
The machine gun as now used. calls
for the establishment on the TANKS
OF nests OF guns which fire at an
angle and toward the center Of the
attacking forces. BY this method OF
attacking waves are enfiladed from
each flank. the stream OF bullets OF
the defenders taking the course Of the
sides Of the invented litter V. The at
tacking force is thus cut of from re-
endorsements and the assaulting party
is killed either in attempting TO ad-
vance or in the effort to retreat
through the machine gun barraEe.
The present engagement yesterday
entered fits crisis which will not rass
/ for at last thirty-six hours. II would
appear. however. that the allies have
the situation well In hand.