Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-05-31
ALLIED RESERVES
COME INTO FIGHT
IN CHOSEN SPOTS
Americans Who Captured
Cantigny Beat Off Coun-
terattacks by Germans.
FRENCH AVIATORS DROP
MANY BOMBS ON ENEMY
Paris Reports Loss of Towns of
Fere-en-Tardenois and
Vesilly.
BOCHES APPROACHING MARINE
Aim to Turn Westward When Bulk
of Armies Reach
River Valley.
BoCHEs APPROACHING MARINE
Aim to Turn Westward When Bulk
of Armies Reach
River Valley.
IRv Associated press.1

Slowly. hut surely. the plunge of the
German Crown Princes armies is be-
ing halted by the French and british
armies. While the momentum of the
German masses has not as yet spent
itself. there has been notable slack
cning in it's advance during the past
day. The chief efforts of the Gcrnlans
now seem to be devoted to the widen-
ing of the gap they have torn in tho
positions of the allies between Pinon
and Brimont This work seems to bo
progressing slowly against the desper-
ate resistance of the allied forces
The French. having fallen bacl; from
the limits of the city of SoissonS. have
stood their ground against the at
tacks OF the enemy, and the German
official statement fails to show material
advances there during the days fight
ing. The French are hero fighting on;
familiar ground which has been made
historic by numerous hattlcs. some OF
Which arc named among the decisive
comba1s OF history.
On the eastern end OF the fighting
line some of the forts before Rheims
are said to have fallen, which was to
be expected from the fact that they
have been outf1anked by tho tida Of
invasion that has swept far to the
SOUtn OF the ctty.
FIGHTING IS SIMILAR To
EARLIER CAMPAIGNS
Tho fighting has taken on the.-fa-
mililr aspect of the first invasion of
France in 1914. the advance OF Won
Mackensen along the Dunajec and TN,
lighting in ricardy in March After
breaking the French and British de-
! fensivc positions. but not breaking the
allied line. the Germans are again NOV
ms their forces out in a fan-shaped
fiEure. fighting hardest on the Hanks
OF the extreme front Of their advance.
Inc situation while apparently ~a-..
''eneiF serious. has not assumed .he
Sri''cai aspect of the lighting ,ate in
March. The allies are resisting tbe
@hemEs attacks stubbornly. giving
ground when overpowered and always
maintaining solid front
GERMANS NOW SEVEN
NILES FROM MARINE
The wave of the advance is now an
preaching the valley OF the Marne the
nearest approach to that avenue 10.
ward Paris being at the village OF
Neziily, which lies at the extreme apex
or the German wedge, and is about
seven miles from tho river In 1914
Tie Germans advanced over a front
extending from Braisnc. just east OF
ooissons. TO Nauquois, a little west OF
'eroun. After having reached the
Marne. the Teutons turned the force
OF their advance toward the west. and
'"eE may be expected 10 repeat their
tactics OF four years ago.
Inc reserve forces at the command
or General Foch are now coming into
acton OH ground chosen for the combat
oy that master strategist and il is
possible that blow OF tremendous
proportions may be struck somewhere
along the front OF the German wave
or on its western side. which seems to
DE open to an attack which might,
crumple up the German armies 10 the
east of scissors.
GERMAN EFFORTS TO RECAPTURE
CANrlGNf END IN FAILURE
ihe Americans who captured Can.
tisny have beaten off attack after at-
tack by the Germans. Lnrse German
forces are said to have been gathered
to retake she village. and they have
launched savage assaults at the Amer
leans. but the latter, with rife and
nachine-gun fire. have moved down
the advancing Teutons. while the Amer
lean artillery has smashed the German
formations with barrage FIRE Along
the American-held positions in the Toul
and Lunerilie sectors there have been
several spirited engagements. but no.
where have the Germans succeeded In
penetrating the American lines The
lighting in the air Oh those sectors
has been OF remarkable intensity, with
the Americans holding their own
against the foe.
The allied positions In the Flanders
sector have been subjected TO bombard.
ments. but the only infantry fight.
ing there has been initiated by the
French near Dickcbusch Lake, south
OF, Yrres. who improved their posi-
tions as the result of an attack on the
Germans. ~
The fghtinE on the Italian trent has
not been OF an unusual character.
FIFTH COUNTERATTACk
AT cANTIGNY Is REpI;LsEH,