Evening star., 1918-06-11

IN MONUMENT.
terday was along the course Of the
Matz river. His first objective was
probably to reach the Disc at Mont
macq and outfiank the whole French
salient north of the Disc. This might
result in an allied withdrawal to the
south bank.
If the enemy's objective be Paris he
will naturally. thrust a tentacle down
the Disc valley and another westward
from the line along the Ourcq. He
mass of the Aigle. Compeigne and
Villers-Cotterets forests. These have
been found impregnable to frontal
attack and the enemy probably intends
to pass north and south of them.
bringing the tentacles together.
This plan seems overambtious and
impossible Of accomplishment and 1t
appears probable that as soon as this
is realized the enemy's efforts prob
ably will be directed at Amiens or to-
ward Calais.
In the meantime, however, the Ger
man battalions are being depleted in
the fighting from Noyon to Chateau
Thierry and from Verneufl to Rheims.
His reserves of manhood are declin-
ing. Out of 200 prisoners taken in the
nrst days of June more than one
fourth belonged to the 1919 class and
the class of 1920 made it's appearance
on the battlefield among the prisoners
captured at Bligny by the British. a
considerable portion of them being
lads of that class.
British Score Success.
LONDON. June 1.-THE British last
night carried out an operation in the
line south of Morlancourt was ad-
vanced half mile on front of a
mile and a half, the war Office an
nounced today. Two hundred and
thtrty-three prisoners were taken.
The statement reads:
Last night another minor operation
was undertaken with complete sue
cess by Australian troops in the re-
gion or Morlancourt. The line south
OF the village has been advanced to
the depth Of nearly half mile on a
front of over mile and a half and 233
prisoners. twenty-one machine guns
and trench mortar were captured
by u.s.
London Story of Battle.
LONDON. June 1o.-"Throughout the
night and morning the battle ragged
along the the new front Of attack with
unabated fury" says the Reuter- corre
spondent at French headquarters. whose
dispatch was filed at o'clock in the
afternoon. "On the wings the enemy
was still held on practically the same
line. in spite of his persistent and reck-
less attempts to advance
On the extreme left the village Of
Jourcelles changed hands six times. On
the extreme right Plemont. although al
most In the first line, was still holding
OUT, the little French garrison having
oeatene or a wave Of German infantry
Mont Renaud is still ours,
hn
pouring In fresh battalions the enemy
succeeded in pushing deep into our line
and is pressing southwark between
Cuvilly and Thiescourt The fighting
was OF the boodiest character, hand to
hand over the ruins of every village.
are extraordinarily heavy, there having
been this time no surprise in the at
tack.
Long Struggle Expected.
The enemy has from eighteen to
twenty divisions in his attacking line
Behind this line his reserves are
ready to replace shattered divisions. We
must reckon on prolonged and desper-
ate struggle, and may have to meet the
shocks of Won Hindenburg's disposable
reserves before the enemy breaks off.
Further losses of ground need not
discourage US. The enemy, instead of
first days of the Aisne battle, is adyanc-
ing painfully yard by yard, paving the
full price for every step. His main
effort for the moment Is toward the
Oise, with the object of turning the
salient we hold in his line with its
apex at Pont L'Eveque, on the Disc.
which comprises Carlepont and our
scamp forest in an angle in. the bend
of the river"
German Official Report.
BERLIN. via London, June 1o.-The
German war ONCE. in its Official COM
munication today. claims the capture
of 5000 prisoners and some guns in
the new offensive in France.
Southwest of Noyon we have made
progress in fighting with newly
war office communication issued this
evening.
The Jay report says:
In a powerful attack we penetrat-
Noyon. West of the Matz river we
have taken French position near
Mortemer and Orvillers and pushed
forward beyond Cuvilly and Ricque-
bourg.
EAST of the Matz river the height
Of Curry was captured. In spite of the
stubborn resistance of the enemy, our
infantry fought it's way through the
woods, of Riequebourg and Lamotte
and threw the enemy back beyond
Bourmont and Mareuil.
South and southeast of Lassigny
we penetrated far into Thiescourt
wood. Violent counter attacks by
the French were repulsed.
I'VE have captured about 5000
prisoners and some guns.
ION the front between the Disc
and Rheims the situation is un-
changed. Local engagements north
Of the Aisne, northwest Of Chateau
Thierry and in the neighborhood of
Bligny brought in prisoners
"Thirty-saven airplanes and six
captive balloons were shot down yes
terdayn