The sun., 1918-06-02
GERMAN BATTLE
WITH u ARMY
NOW EXPECTED
Enemy Apparently Presses
on Toward MOntdidier
Salient in Drive.
SIGNS OF CHECK SEEN
Our Troops Said to Be Around
7O0,OOO-MOre Optimism
in Capital.
SIGNS OF CHECK SEEN
Special Despntch to TIE srS.

WAsHfNGroS, June l.-As pre0,cted py
army experts here. the Germans appear
in no hurry to cross the Marne and risk
A clash with Gen. Foch's reserves. but
are apparently pressing toward the
Montdidier salient instead. This would
bring the bulk of the German armies
closer and closer to American forces
which have been distinguishing them
selves at Cantigny.
There was more optimism IN military
circles to-day following the depression OF
Yesterday caused by the news that the
enemy had reached the Marine. There
are signs too, OF the momentum Of the
German advance being checked.
A distinct feeling prevails here that
the worst In over. at least for the pres
ent. BY reaching the Marne the Ger,
mans hs,e admittedly accomplished ono
of their objectives. but this advantage.
though II means much to them, is not
considered vital to the Allies. 1t COM
plcates and renders more difficult the
problems Of defence. it Is explained. just
as the German capture Of Mont kem-
mel and other ridges complicated and
made more difiicult the defence Of ipres.
But at Ypres the British were able TO
stave of the attacks despite these, dis
advantages. and it is felt that the French
will now hold the enemy in check re.
gardless OF the now difYiculties which the
Germans have placed in the way.
Encouraging signs.
There are also encouraging signs that
Gen. Foch is not going to allow the Ger
mans TO maintain their positions on the
Marne without keeping up the fight Re
ports that the French were striking back
At the newly won German positions
clearly indicated this.
Successes which the German armies
have met in the last iive days in driv-
ing toward the Marne is attributed
by experts here to he due in great meas
ure to the large reserves of munitions
and projectiles which the kaiser's forces
are believed to have been able to pile up
since the last offensive. The duration
Of the present drive. according to the be
lief in some quarters here, is contingent
on the volume of shells which the Ger
mans have at their disposal.
Advices reaching the United states in
the last two weeks from the other side
indicate that the Germans have devoted
almos, all Of their energies since the
end OF the Picardy and Flanders offen-
sive to the accumulation Of munition re-
serves and putting themselves in readi-
ness to pour an increasing shower of
projectiles on the allied armies in the
present advance.
The belief Ia entertained by some
here that the allied armies should have
kept up constant bombardment OF as
great intensity as possible on the Ger
man positions, which would have forced
the Germans to reply and prevented
them from accommodating munitions in
considerable quantities.
Before starting the drive in March the
Germans piled up sufficient munitions
TO last them about two months at the
rate OF the tremendous bombardnients
they maintained against the Picardy
and Ypres fronts. As was anticipated here
two weeks in advance, the drive came to
an end when the estimated munition re-
serves OF the Germans were exhausted
simultaneously the order went out 10
commander the German church bells
door knobs and plates. and in some in
stances statues and metal bustS.
The Germans in that battle were bet
ter supplied with munitions than IN the
Somme offensive OF 1916. and II is posi-
BILE that due to tho comparative inac-
tivity Of the artillery since early In May
the Germans have an even larger supply
Of projectiles and shells than they have
ever had before.
War Conference Held.
Committee with the War Council at the
War Department to-day was productive
OF little encouragement for the legisla-
tors. To them the situation was de-
scribed by tho military experts as "se-
rious. although not critical !"
The transportation OF America n. troops
overseas. 1t was said. was keeping well
I'd to the schedule set more than q
month ago 1t was said the total force
now on European soil amounted TO ap-
proxmately 100000 men Of all arms OF
the service
Surprise at the sudden success Of the
German forces in the latest phase OF the
renewed drive was frankly admitted by
the army officers. 1t was said tina,
American observers who went over the
ground last autumn were convinced that
this particular terrain would OFFER by its
very formation difficulties which no such
sweeping tactics as those employed h,
tho Germans could successfully reduce
The rolling hills Of the region. II wa.
thought, would furnish stumbling block
n tpnh hlnok hut