The Germans Held.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 4 June 1918, Page 3

The Germans Held.

French Take Ground and

Prisoners.

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I.PBB PBKU ASSOCIATION.]

COUNTER OFFENSIVE IMMINENT.

Received this day, 9.15 a.m London, Juno 3

The French continue to gain ground between the Ourcq and the Marne. They have captured hundreds of prisoners. The French press believes the Allied counter-attack is pending. i.3(J p.m.—'J.lie Frencli resistance is Hourly increasing along the Oise-Uurcq-Mame Valley, while the German progress is decreasing. German thrusts in the direction of the Aiiilignycourt-i'bjnte-nay line and the Urise Valley' further south have the double object oi ' attaining the Oise Valley and encircling the forest of Villers Cotterets, which latter in now the enemy's immediate objective. The Matin's military critic states that masses of Germans ,aiv Collecting towards Ferte M'llon I Valley .hoping to debeucli on to the historic plateau whereon the Sixth Army fought its battlo in 1914. The present battle is momentarily one of parallels but the German lateral movement is expected. It is pointed out that the Germans are moving so fast that an opportunity will probably be given for one of those sudden manoeuvres * capable of upsetting the entire combination. Hanging on at SJssons. BIG ARTILLERY CONCENTRATIONS. Received this day, 9.15 a.m. Amsterdam, June 3. The German war correspondents emphasise the particularly stubborn resistance the French are offering near Soissons, where there are large concentrations of artillery. OPERATIONS IN FLANDERS Received this day, 9.15 a.m. London, June 3, 12.45 a.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We carried out successful operations in the neighbourhood of Vieux Berguin and Merris and advanced ou rline slightly at these points. We took prisoners 193 men and captured a number of machine guns and trench mortars while our casualties were fight. We successfully raided southward of Arras, northward of Lens and westward of Merville and repulsed raiders southward oi Villers Bretonneux.

Explanations.

WHY THE GERMAN BLOW

SUCCEEDED

Reuter's Telegram. Received this day, 9.50 a.m. London, June 3. French headquarters.—The following details o fthe first day's fighting north of the Aisne are important because of the light they throw on the swift Anglo-French retreat in the early hours of the 27th of May. It has been already explained that the British held the front from Craonne to Bermericourt, crossing the Aisne at Berry-au-Bac on the left. Our line wan formed by the-Fiftieth Territorial Division which held the Caii forninan plateau immediately above Craonne. On our left the line was earned on by a French division which already had a very extended front along the Ghemin-des-Dames. The probability of a Gorman attack in this sector was fully recognised but the enemy gave no sign of his intention until the bombardment began on the 27th. Bad weather had hindered aeroplane observation work along the Aisne since March.

The truth is it was unnecessary for the Germans to make noticeable preparations. They knew this front was lightly held and estimated accurately the niimber of - troops they would require to ensure the indispensable initial success. Then they poured in streams of fresh divisions to pursue the advantage. But von Hutier's method of attack makes it superfluous Jor troops required to exploit a victory to appear on the battlefield until he is quite sure the opening attack has succeeded. A front such as the Germans held was constructed to shelter a far larger number of troops than actually occupied it. It was not •difficult for the enemy to put in the number of divisions necessary to attack without fresh digging close to the front which inevitably would have revealed his purpose. To understand what followed it must be remembered that the trench front under Chemin-des-Dames and in the Ailette valley was in full view of the German artillery observers on the opposite lines of heights and the position of the French trenches was wellknown to the Germans. The French front was attacked in greater density than ours and the enemy infantry suffered heavily from our machine guns m crossing the valley. They were however in too great strength to be held thereby. They were on the crest practically m a stride and they seem to have crossed the itrest by a narrow neck uniting the California and Vauclero plateAfany rate the first intimation of their presence the British division received was the sudden appearance of a German cbluxnn in their rear making its way down the steep slope to Craonne. Retreat was inevitable and the An-

glo-Frencli line fell back to the river bank fighting all the way in order to save the unity of the line. Tho British Fiftieth and Eighth Divisions were swamped by the weight of German numbers and lost heavily. On the right, south of the river, the Twenty-fifth Division an dthe neighbouring French Division held firm. The British Twenty-fifth Division which was in reserve, sent up supports early in the day, so that all the British troops on the Aisne front participated in the battle.

THE LATEST.

STRANGLING RHEIMS. PARIS CONSIDERED SAFE. Received this day 1.20 a.m. New York, June 3. The Germans have drawn the line closer round Rheims and now hold three-quarters of the armed circle. _ London, June 3. The Pall Mall Gazette states that the High Commands regard the position as established. The fiercest fighting continues towards Paris, which is considered secure. The Jong-range bombardment of the citv has been resumed.

U-Boats Off America.

SHIPPING HELD UP

Received this (lay, 9.15 a.m. New York, June 3. ! One steamer and several smalljer craft have been sunk ofl: the ! New Jersey coast by German subI marines. The ships were attacked during the night. Out-going ships have been stopped. It is I believed half a dozen vessels were sunk. The Eastern American port shave been closed and there are no sailings. The crews of several craft were rescued and landed. Two U-boats were seen. Received this day, 11.15 a.m. New York, June 3. According to Captain H. Gr. Newcombe, of the steamer Cole, the submarines were sighted on Sunday afternoon 800 yards away and they fired a shot across the bows and circled round their intended victim. Then they sent men aboard and sank the Cole with bombs. The crew escaped in small boats and were picked up by the American steamer Bristol, and brought to New York. One U-boat was last seen chasing a vessel. The Navy Department was apprised of the sinking on Sunday and despatched 'chasers and othe rubral craft to the vicinity. The Cole was a collier homeward bound from Boston to Portland. The closing of the Atlantic ports has caused a sensation. FIFTEEN VESSEL'S SUBMARINED. Received H am. this day. New York, June 3. The passenger steamer City of Columbus has been submarined. An S.O.S. call has been received from the steamer Caroline. A Porto Rican liter was attacked by submarines. Later. Fifteen vessels have been submarined.