The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-20
RUSSIANS IN FRANCE


Continued from Page one)
ing the war there have been reports
that Russia was sending troops to
the French war theater. No such
troops have ever appeared before,
however.
French Make Drive.
The French again have taken the
offensive in the Verdun battle and
launched attacks against the German
lines on the right bank of the Mouse.
Paris declares the aggressive move was
successful resulting in the capture of
portion of German trenches and a re-
doubt and in the taking of several
hundred prisoners. This operation on
the part of General Petain'S forces
follows closely German move in a
new field in the Verdun struggle. This
took the form of a drive on the ex-
treme right flank of the French forces
in this sector, three successive at
tacks being delivered at Les Eparges,
about 8 miles southeast of Verdun,
on the edge of the Woevre plain. Mill
tary observers have long expected
some such operation by the Germans
as part of a squeezing movement in
tended to force the evacuation of the
fortress. The new attempt was unsuc-
ceSSful, however, Paris has reported,
the Germans having been driven off
by a counter attack out of the two
hundred yards of trenches they had
succeeded in occupying.
ReinforcementS for Germany.
Paris, April 20.-French resistance
in the region of Verdun is compelling
the German general staff to withdraw
large forces from the Teuton front in
Macedonia and Serbia and in Russia
according to information obtained to :
day from the highest military author
tiles here.
The first division of the first Ger
man army corps and another division
not yet identified, are said to DE
among the troops which have just
been brought from the other fronts.
The Eighteenth army corps and the
Eleventh Bavarian division it is de-
clared, have been brought from Serbia.
Capture English Trenches.
Berlin, April 20.-British trenches
for a distance of 500 meters between
Langemarck and Ypres, Belgium, have
| been occupied by German troops, ac-
cording to the official statement given
out at the army headquarters today.
A Strong Force.
Paris, April 20.-A strong force of
Russian troops disembarked at Mar
settles at noon today.
| The Russians are to fight beside the
allied soldiers in France.
General Joffre welcomed the Rus
slams in an order of the day, saying
their arrival was another proof of the
| cause.
Joffre Sends Warmest Greeting.
The text of the order issued by Cen
eral Joffre follows:
"Our faithful ally, Russia, whose
armies already are fighting so va1or-
| ously against Germany, Austria and
| Turkey, wanted to give France further
assurance of her friendship; more
striking proof of her devotion to our
| common cause
Russian soldiers chosen from the
bravest in her armies and commanded
| by officers of the highest renown,
have come to fight in our ranks
Receives Them Warmly
You will receive them like broth
ers. You will show them that warm
sympathy which you feel toward
| those who leave their country to come
| and fight at our sides.
| In the name of the French army ]
| welcome the officers. under officers
| and soldiers of Russia who have de-
barked in France. I bow before the
Russian flag upon which there soon
will be inscribed the glorious names OF
| our victories"