| OCR Text |
Show GE1IS ADVANCE 2B MILES H 4 DNS; i Situation on Western Front Critical, in Opinion of British General Staff. LONDON, May 31. A statement given to the Associated Press tonight by a high military authority, expressive of the opinion of the British general staff of the situation on the western front, says: The main German offensive has been directed toward Chateau Thierry Thi-erry and Dormans. The Germans have reached the right bank . of the Marne on a front of ten miles from a point west of Chateau Thierry to Dormans. They have not captured Chateau Thierry, but are attacking very heavily and to the northward. They already have captured Sots-sons, Sots-sons, and yesterday they extended their attack northwest to Noyon and forced the French back, so that the line now runs almost straight from Noyon to Soissons. Around Rheims the position is somewhat obscure. Probably the Germans already have entered Rheims. Attack East of Rheims. The French reported yesterday that the allied lino had retired to the south of the canal near Rheims, but this morning there was news that the British were resisting north of the city. The new development is that the German attempt is to extend the attack ea3t of Rheims, whore they were reported attacking last night, but no further details have yet been received. j The Germans have thrown in every ev-ery resource in an effort to widen the salient in whicli they find themselves by attacking its Hanks, but on the heights to the west of Soissons the French are resfeting well, while the-British the-British arc making a stand south and southwest of Rheims. These efforts thus far have hold the German salient to a narrow width. 26 Utiles in Four Days. The situation is very anxious, not only because the Germans have made such rapid progress an advance of Iwpnty-six miles in four days but ;ilso because they havo such large large reserves available to be thrown iu at any point. The Germans' big at lack began lay 27 with about thirty divisions, on a front of thirty-five miles, from Bcrmericourt to "Lcuilly. This front was held by seven allied division.-:, of which three British were on t lie right and four French on the left. After a bombardment of two hours, which appears to have been very effective ef-fective in cutting our Irr. the Germans Ger-mans assaulted. The'- overran the Frcnh front linc. The British held in Ihcir scrond line at iin-t. but eventually even-tually were coinprlled lo fall back to conform lo t;ic. French alignment. The Germans advanced v ( ry ra pidly, pid-ly, crowing the Alsnr. although the French had occupied very strong po- (Continued on Pago Two.) ( positions. If it is said that the high command placed t hree tired British divisions on an exposed part of t he front, it must be remembered that this disposition was made with full agreement of the British headquarters. headquar-ters. Questions such as the bases of supply and communication have to be taken into account in the employment employ-ment of troops. Until fresh reserves of the Germans have been engaced somewhere, the situation must continue con-tinue anxious. On the other hand, the attack of the last week has not been so serious seri-ous as on some other points in the allied line, because we have more room to maneuver and can better afford af-ford to fall back. Another thing that must always be considered Is that tho Germans are rapidly using up their effectives. Thus far they probably have employed forty-five (it-visions (it-visions in the present attack, of which twenty-nine have been identified. reason to hope that Germany will not make any further progress at this point, although the situation must remain anxious as long as they have plenty of reserves available. The immediate im-mediate future depends on what course the enemy adopts. Partial Surprise. The main masses of men were brought up to the actual front lines only on the night before the attack, which was preceded by only a two hours' bombardment for the purpose of cutting our wire. The Germans are not making the same use of tneir artillery as heretofore. They are using trench mortars in large numbers for wire cutting. The Germans had prepared for an attack on this part of the line for a long time, constructing the necessary neces-sary gun emplacements and assembly places so that our aircraft did no't observe any construction of new trenches or emplacements just before the attack. Under the conditions which prevailed pre-vailed in the region of the Chemin-des-Dames, an initial success could hardly b prevented. Nor can it be prevented anywhere there are not adequate reserves immediately available. avail-able. The allies have these disadvantages disadvan-tages : Klrst. they are inferior in numbers: second, t hey are act ing on exterior lines; third, they have many vulnerable points; fourth, north of the Sornme they have litt le footway in which to maneuver. It is not fair io blame the high command when the allies have inherent in-herent and unfavorable strategic I L GERMANS MICE MILES ffl 4 DAYS (Continued from Page One.) sit ions here, with three divisions commanding the river crossings. Since this time the crown prrnce has done the utmost possible with his sroup of armies to push forward, lie has thrown in every reserve division di-vision he possesses, with the aim of pushing through to the Marne and lei, tt mil; the important railwav to t'halons. l i it" Ira n sport of reserves h:i s worked ery well and tiiere is every Says It Acted Like a Charm. Coughs, colds, sore throat or bronchial bron-chial troubles which persist at this time of tlie year usually arc of an obstinate character. That is all the more reason why a truly reliable remedy like Foley's Konev and Tar (.'u in pound should be used. M i s. Margaret. Sinale, Bishop, ( "all f ., writes: ' Koley 's llonev and Tar is a jM-and remedy; more than is claimed for it. I was suffering from a cold last week and used the medicine and if acted Ii1;e a charm." ( onfains no opiates. Schramm -Johnson, I rugs, Five (0) Good Stores. (Adv.) |
