The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-05-05
III Trick Is Turned Germans
Retire to Frontier Line.
By Surprise Attack, NiveIle
Captures CraOnne Position.
OPENS WAY TO GREAT VICTORY
Germany Withdraws Her Best
Troops From East Front.
Turmoil in Russia MinimiZes
Danger to TeutOn Army.

| London, May 5.-Way for the flank
ing of the Laon pivot of the German
Hindenburg line was open to the
French today. If General Nivelle can
turn the trick and outflank the Ger
mans by capture of Laon in the i'm
mediate future, military strategis;s
here believe the retirement of the Ger
mans to the frontier line will be neces-
Sary.
Capture of Craonne. dominating the
Aisne plateau and the Miette valley,
taken in a surprise blow of great
strength struck yesterday by the
French commander. gives the French
their entry point for this important
operation. Today the French were
nine miles distant from Laon, but with
the intervening ground favorably situ-
ated for their further progress.
Preparing Drastic Defense.
German reserves hurriedly concen-
trated to offset the French victory
were stubbornly contesting every inch
of the ground held by Nivelle's troops
and front dispatches indicated a battle
Of gigantic proportions was gathering
there. Craonne ana LaOn lie at the
base of an angle of which LaFere is
the point. A penetration of this angle
would give the allies a hold back of
| the Hindenburg line all the way north
and place the Germans in grave jeop-
ardy.
British front reports today indicat-
ed a temporary stoppage of infantry
assault actions of any great magni-
| tude, but an increase of artillerying
all along the line.
Greatest Battle in History.
While the greatest battle in history
continues to rage in bloody fury in
northern France, the riddle of Russia
has presented a new phase with n
menaced counter-revolution of stag
gering possibilities. For the moment,
/ the provisional government has the
upper hand but the voice of the radi-
calls grows louder and more threat
ening every day demanding conces-
slons which would make impossible
the existence of an organized govern
ment The wild currents of intrigue
and dissatisfaction which are in evil
dence at Petrograd are the more con-
fusing as the opponents of the revolu-
tionary government offer no coherent
program and seem to have no COM
mon aim. The capital is boisterously
vocal but back of it. the businesses of
Russia lie silent, with not hint to
tell what the masses of the people are
thinking of doing.
! An indication of the German view
/ of the situation is given by a report
that the best German troops have
/ ben Withdrawn from the eastern
front. their places being taken by
Landstrum and Landwehr divisions.
1
AS far as news dispatches indicate
I the radical insurgents in Petrograd
are basing their attack on the May
Day note sent to the allies by For
/ eign Secretary Milukoff affirming
| Russia determination to continue the
war. The provisional government has
/ energetically supported this position
and the ministers declare they will re-
sign rather than modify the stand
( taken by NJ. Milukoff
/ on the battle front in France, there
is no sign yet of decisive issue to the
tremendous battle raging day and
/ night along a hundred mile front. The
French have battered their way a lit
I tie closer to Laon and have stormed
one of the great natural fortresses
! guarding the southern end of the
! Hindenburg line. By the capture
! Craonne they have forced. ajar the
1 back door to Laon but there are other
mighty obstacles still in their path.
Craonne captured yesterday by the
French, formed one of the two gun
! crowned heights at the head of n
goal-Laon. The other. which re-
mains unsubdued, is the sinister Bril-
mont plateau from which the German
guns thunder daily against the ruins
! of Rheims cathedral Thousands of
/ lives have been spent in vain in an
effort to storm this plateau but its
J capture is vital to the French advance
Outside of the lists where the war
ring nations are arrayed interest CEN
ters on Brazil and China. In both
countries a parliamentary battle is be-
, ing waged which will decide whether
or not they enter the ranks of Ger
/ rf1anVfS foes.