Evening star., 1918-05-31
/. French Forced Back in
the Aillette Region.
Stand Firm at
; Rheims.
RECAPTURE THILLOIS;
HOLDING AT SOISSONS.
Arrival Of Allied Reserves
Strengthens Con6dence-Pos-
sible German Plans.
h the Associated Press.

the Associated Press.
PARIS, May 31.-The Ger
mans continue to push forward
south of Fere-en-Tardenois, ac-
cording to the latest advices
reaching Paris, but neither
Chateau Thierry nor Dormans
has yet fallen into their hands.
There is reason to hope that
Chateau Thierry, the population
of which has fed, will be saved.
(Chateau Thierry is ten miles
south of Fere en- Tardenois,
while Dormans is six miles
south of Vezilly. Both towns
are on the river Marne.)
The allied left flank on the
Aisne front has been forced back
by violent German attacks in the
region of Ailette river, it is an
nounced officially. Near Sois-
sons and further south German
attacks broke down, the French
maintaining their positions.
In the center the Germans
made a slight advance north of
the Marne. Farther east and
also northwest and north Of
Rheims all the German efforts
were vain. The French, by
counter attack, won back the
town of Thillois, west of Rheims.
Withdrawing before the Ger
man onslaught in the region of
} the Ailette, the French fell back
on positions north of Bleran-
court (nine miles southeast of
Noyon) and Epagny (seven
miles northwest of Soissons)
The French are holding their
positions along the road between
scissors and Chateau Thierry,
rs we'll as in the western out
skirts of SCISSORS.
Text Of Statement.
The statement follows:
~The Germans extended their effort
on their right as far as the Disc by
violent attacks in the region Of the
Ailette. The French fell back. fight
ing. on positions to the north of the
line Blarancourt-Epagny.
TN the region of Scissors and fur
ther south the German attack broke
down before the heroic resistance OF
the French, who maintained their po-
sttion in the western outskirts Of the
town and along the road to Chateau
Thierry
an the center the Germans sue
ceeded in making a slight advance in
the regions north of the Marne. Fur
ther east, as well as northwest and
10 make progress were vain. An
energetic counter attack delivered by
French troops won back Thillois."
Two Miles From Marne.
The extreme point of the German
advance is LIE Charmed. about two
miles north Of the River Marne. ac-
rordfnR to an outline of the battle
front as marked out by a newspaper
correspondent, the Havas Agency
The newspapers do not attempt to
minimize the importance of the Ger
s man advance. Gabriel Hanotaux. IN
the Figaro. compares the strategic
situation with that on the eve of the
battle of the Marne. All the COM
mentators. however. express conf
dence that the high command will sc
dispose the allied troops as to restore
the situation, which L'Homme Libre
considers to have reached its maxi
mum point of gravity yesterday. The
Petit Parisien says the government
oficials who say the army chiefs yes
terday returned in the evening still
confident, which 1t regards as a good
sign.
Of the>allied forces which inspires the
confidence OF all the military critics
To take victorious advantage Of the
success they have SO far gained the
Germans must succeed in bending
these two hinges.
Deserves Cause Confidence.
Another reason for the confiden,
feeling is tho arrival of allied re.
serves. Besides the mention in the of.
doiaI report Of the beginning of inter.
vention by these reserves. the Echo de
Paris, in q dispatch from the front
fled at q am. today. reports that the
reserves are arriving on the battle
ground with artillery and auxiliary
services. Their entrance into action
the message reports. is being effected
y msthodically without any display OF
nervousness. Gen. Foch and Gen. Pc.
tain are working intimately together
lt adds. to meet the serious situation
IN commenting on the Intervention
~ the fresh forces LHomme Libre
DAyo 1t does not appear doubtful that
The enemy has reached the extreme
point Of his advance and that he will
encounter the allied reserves carefully
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