The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-05-11
GUNS ROARING IN
MACEDONIA DRIVE
ON 100 MI. FRONT
Line From MOnastir to Lake
Dorian Flares Up.
Great Armies Still Struggling
for FresnOv.
PREPARING FOR new THRUST
Haig About to Launch Greatest
of All OffenSiyes.
French Make New Capture and
- Advance at ChevreuX.
PREPARING FOR new THRUST
Haig About to Launch Greatest
of All Offensives.
French Make New Capture and
- Advance at ChevreuX.
LBy The Associated Press.I


11-While there is no general battle
in progress, intensely bitter fighting
has flared up at various sectors on
the British line from the vicinity of
Lens almost to the south of st. QUEEN
I'm. Much of this is due to the desper-
ate attempts of the Germans to retake
some of their old positions. They still
are hurting fresh reinforcement by
day and by night into the conflict
which ever is becoming more san
culinary. The Germans have resorted
again to the use OF liquid fire in their
most recent attacks, but even that
.barbaFic weapon has failed them. II
has been employed several times in
the tragic fighting which has ragged
about Bullecourt in the past ten days.
This village and the sections of the
Hindenburg line which adjoin it has
been the real storm center of the war
during this period along the British
front.
Use Terrible War Devices.
The Germans appear absolutely
frantic in their efforts to hold the
northern half of the village of Bulle-
court and to GUST the Australians from
their grim hold on the Hindenburg
line short distance to the east. The
fighting here has been marked by all
the more terrible devices of war. for in
addition to liquid fire, gas has been
used time after time, boiling oil mas
been
grenades, trench mortars and every
Character and calibre of artillery has
been employed.
Battle Opens in Macedonia.
Along the entire front on the Mace
donia from Monastir to Lake Dorian
distance of about 100 miles, the al
lies have opened a great offensive. In
every section of the line, General Sar-
rails artillery is roaring day and night
but the campaign is in its initial phase
and there is little to indicate as yet
where the main attempt to advance
will be made.
More fighting is proceeding in the
bend of the Cerna river and in the
neighborhood of the Vardar, the two
points on the Macedonian front where
the wild, barbarous country of noun
tains and deserts is broken by fertile
valleys. Military critics are agreed
that 1t is up one of these valleys that
the allied forces must force way.
Mghtest Drive Yet.
In France the deadlock continues
but behind the fighting line the allies
are massing men and guns for another
tremendous blow such as that which
broke the Hindenburg line and loos-
ened the grip of the Germans in the
Champagne. General Maurice, chief
director of British military operations,
announced that the coming drive will
be mightier in force and extent than
A
ras and the SOmme and the indica-
tons are that the blow will not be
long delayed.
The comparative lull in France has
once more directed attention to the
political situation which appears to be
rapidly reaching a crisis or rather, n
series of crises The news from Rus
STA is increasingly gloomy and it be-
comes more and more a question
whether the provisional government
n n ct or hot hoe
precipitated by the radical Socialists
and Missionaries. In any event there
seems little likelihood of any effective
military action on the part of Russia
for a long time to come.
Austria Seeks Separate Peace.
From Austria come renewed re-
ports of desire on the. part of the
government to break the shackles i'm
posed upon it by Berlin. An Austrian
commission is reported on its way to
switzerland to open negotiations with.
France for a separate peace. The
complete absence of any reliable news
from the dual monarchy for many
weeks, renders. however, a correct
judgment of conditions there impos-
sible.
The tide of reform is obviously
growing rapidly in Germany and it
seems certain that the government
cannot resist much longer the demand
for more democratic form of gov
eminent. The efforts of the emperor
to placate the people at home while
conducting a strenuous peace propa-
ganda abroad are signs that the inter-
nal situation in the empire is far from
comforting to the autocracy.
Capture German Position.
Paris, May 11.-Another advance by
capture of German position in the
region of ChevreuX was announced in
the French official statement today.
The gain was held despite violent
counter attacks.
The war office said this gain was
achieved yesterday evening.
There was heavy cannonading in the
region Of Cerny and Hurtbise Several
attempts by the Germans to raid
French trenches were frustrated by
heavy shell fire.
Liquid Fire Attack Fails.
London, May 11.-Vigorous German
attempts to shake Field Marshal
Haig's grip on Arleux positions and
lines to the south of the Souchez river
were all repulsed, the British COM
mandor in chief reported today.
The British artillery and machine