Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 May 1918 — ENEMY RESUMES BIG DRIVE IN TWO SECTORS [ARTICLE]

ENEMY RESUMES BIG DRIVE IN TWO SECTORS

Expected Blow Struck Between Rheims-Soissoos and In Flanders. AMERICANS IN BOTH BATTLES French Army Offers Stubborn Bo* si stance and Attack in Flanders Indicates Attempt to Reach Hill I“osit ions West of Kemmel and Pinch British —Germans Gain Virtually Nothing. Germany’s great offensive on the western front has been resumed. With only brief artillery preparations, two blows have been struck by the Teuton armies, which have beeu held up since disastrous blows were inflicted on them by the French and British during the Pio* ardy and Flanders battles in March and April. Oue attack was on the line from Voormezeele to Loore, southwest of Ypree; the other of thirty-five mile front from Plnou, north of Soissons, to Rhelnis. This is known as the Aisne sector. In Flanders the Germans have gained virtually nothing, but further south the official Berlin statement claims that the German crown pence's troops have carried the whole ridgy, of the Cheunin, Dee Dames and now are fighting on the Aisne river.

The attack' in Flanders Is against German- positions taken p>y the French May 20, when they recaptured Bruillose and Docre and strengthened their line on each side of Hill 44, which they had retaken a few days before. Recalls Old Battle. On the Aisne front Mho present buttle recalls the fearful fighting of last summer along the Ohemln Des Dames, where for weeks the German crown prince hurled his men against the French positions only to see them crushed and beaten. Last year seventy-five divisions were engaged in the German attacks along this line alone. The attack here is really in the nature of a line straightening operation. It is being launched from Laon as a center and la aimed at the elbow in the line formed during the fighting in Picardy in March and April. Here, however, the Germans must face permanent works which have been occupied by the French for long periods and which can be defended quite easily. Allies Forewarned.

Evidence that the allied supreme command was forewarned of the new German attack may be found in the fact that British troops are fighting there. Up to the .present it had been believed that the British forces did not hold positions much south of the Somme, east of Amiena. The German crown prince is in command in this district and this may indicate a serious effort to break the allied line. Crown Prine Ruppreeht of Bavaria is the nominal commander in Artois and Picardy, and the German crown prince, for dynastic reasons, will strive to outdo whatever success was attained by his colleague further north. It is probable that American troops are engaged in the fighting in both the battles on the French front. It Is known that American troops are close behind the allied lines in Flanders, while some time ago it was reported that they were near Rheims. The late official reports note severe fighting in various sectors, among them the Apremont forest, where Americans are known to be holding positions at the present time. The reports say that the Germans were repulsed in all these attacks. Yanks Drive Out Foe. It is officially reported from Washington that American positions in the Picardy sector, near Cantigny and Mont Didier, have been subjected to attack and that at places the Germans penetrated them. The enemy, however, was driven out by the Americans. If you want a good typerwiter at a bargain price, see those at The Democrat office.