Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-06-10
NEW ENEMY DRIVE
. IN NOYON SECTION
MEETS RESISTANCE
Present Offensive Is North
of Last Weeks
Big Battle.
GERMANS DRIVEN BACK
IN ATTACK AT RHEIMS
Americans in Montdidier Sector
Not Yet Engaged in
Fighting.
QUIET PREVAILS ON MARINE
Intense Artillery Duels Between
Astico and Piave River
in Italian Theatcr.>
{By Associated Press.

The armies of Crown Prince Rup.
precht of Bavaria again are hitting the
allied line in n new offensive, with
Paris apparently their objective. Re
tween Montdidier and Noyon. over a
front of about twenty miles. preceded
as usual by IA heavy bombardment with
shells of all calihers and with noxious
gases. the enemy's initial maneuver
evidently has in view the bending
back of the allied front toward the
town of St. Just, on the northern wing.
and toward the railroad junction of
Compiegnc on the southern flank. get
ting astride the Disc River and driy-
ing southwest toward the French cap
itaf. .4sts-is
The French troops are resisting tho
impact with the usual valor, but the
Germans. on their right and III the
center. have been able to penetrate the
line for distances ranging from two
thirds of mile south OF Montdidier
to relatively two and half miles at
Reasons -Matz, In the center. Thence
to Noyon. however, the allied line Is
holding strongly.
If success should rest with the en-
emy On the new battle front 1t pos
sibly might badly affect the stability
Disc to the Marine and compel fall
ing back westward from the Disc TO
the region OF the Marine northwest OF
Chateau-Thicrry. in order to straightcn
out the deep salient that would then
project eastward, with the Scissors
sector as its apex.
The allied commanders. it is assert
cd. were not taken unawares by the
new offensive On the other hand, they
had anticipated, since the failure of
the army Of the German Crown Prince
to gain It's objectives between Sotssons
and the Marne and thence on the south.
ern part of the line running to Rheims
that tie German high command would
decree another maneuver to the north
ana preparations accordingly Swer->
made to withstand the shock
The lighting is of extremely sanSuin-
airy character. and whether 1t will be
cohhheu TO the area at present affect
cd remains TO be seen. At last NC
counts. i had not spread north OF
Nontdidier to the village OF CantiSny,
which the Americans are holding
comparative quiet prevails NJ the
regions Of the Marine and on that por
ton o. tho liuc in Flanders held nv
The British there have been ro occur.
rences OF interest, according TO. Fiei6
MARSHAL liaig's latest communicated.
me only attack reported in the French
oi'iciai comnunica tion in tie region
or rheims was delivered by the Ger.
mans. who suffered serious losses. b1ie
gained no ground.
from the Astico region to the Piaye
River In the Italian theater. thera
nave been intense artillery duels but
no infantry engagements Of great i'm
nortance although the British south
of the -Assa and the Italians east OF the
bFenta RiVer carried out successful
attacks. inficting considerable ,osses
on the enemy and taking prisoners and
machine guns Similar attacks by tho
enemy In the Val Arsa and Astico
Valley were repulscd
CREATION OF PARIS DEFENSE
COMMITTEE NOT SURPRISING
inc creation OF a Paris defense COM
'nlttee should cause no surprise, writes
Frederic Brunei, the Socialist member
OF me French Chamber of Deputies,
Inc situation on the front is better.
nut IL would be dangerous optimism
not TO prepare for the fluctuations of
war"
continuing his statement Brunet
says: 1t is grave matter to speak
OF eVentualities which may occur The
Germans must suImount tremendous
obstacles before they can set within
Striking distance of Faris. However
the city should not be abandoned. for
II IS the supreme redoubt upon which
deperds the fate OF the country. which
would refuse TO give ground for tho
sake OF cconomizing In the lives Of
soldiers.
1t would be dangerous and unpardon.
able not to envisage ali eventuaNtfes.
evfn the most excessive which mAgn,
occur before the arrival of the grea,
american contiegents that will swing
Inc scale OF electives in our favor.
BY new offensive. without count
ing the sacrifices, the Germans might
gain position enabling them TO bonn
bard Paris with long range guns. not
internationally as they are now doing
with the big Bertha" but systematt.
caHy and continuously.
Under such conditions Industrial lIfa ].
would become impossible aa regards