The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-05-09
CANADIANS HIT

CONTINUED from Page One,
southern and western portions of Bull
lecourt late, last night but made no
attempt to attack with infantry.
condition with British and German
posts scattered thru it. The hostile
posts gradually are being absorbed,
however, and a number of prisoners
are being taken. German counter at
tackS are being delivered with greater
forces all the time after intensive ar
tiIlery fire from a great concentration
of guns. These attacks are very cost
ly efforts but so long as they continue
the lighting will sway to and from
certain positions in the long lines.
Reckless in Life Expenditure.
With massed reserves and every
available gun at his command, Crown
Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria is striv-
ing to halt the ceaseless British as
saults on the Drocourt-Queant line, the
last bulwark protecting the richest
prize of the Germans in northern
France-the coal fields of Lens. The
reckless expenditure of human life by
the German commander has had. at
least, a temporary reward in the re-
capture of FreSnoy at the northern
end of the line. This little village
and the wood which surrounds it
formed a sharp salient driven by the
Canadians to within two miles of Dro
court. Its capture marks the first
time in the present offensive that a
German counter attack has succeeded
in wrestling an important position from
the British.
British Wedge Far In.
Curiously enough the official state
ment from Berlin that announces the
capture of Fresnoy indicates tie Brit
ish are much closer to the southern
end of the Drocourt- Queant line than
has been claimed by London. The
German war office tells of heavy fight
ing between Riencourt and Fontaine,
the former village being a bare mile
and a half from Queant and less than
that distance from Cagnicourt, the
next German stronghold north of
Queant.
Everything indicates the present
struggle on the British front is re-
garded on both sides as one or the
most important actions of the war.
But it may be many days before 4
decision is reached. The determine
ton with which the Germans are fight
ing and their strenuous efforts to con-
centrate guns and reserves show that
the Drocourt-Queant line is regarded
by them as of vital Importance and
will be surrendered only in the last
extremity.
Macedonia Drive Now On.
From two other war theaters news
comes that "Opens up many POSSIBLE
ties. The fighting on the Macedonian
front, constantly developing in Sc
verify and extent, gives renewed color
t. the belief that General Sarrail is
initiating operations of major import
ance and possibly general offensive.
The developments there appear to
have given fresh impetus to the revo-
lutionary movement in Greece, rein
forced by the news that Venizelist
troops are on the firing line and have
been victors in the first clash with
their hereditary foes. the Bulgars.
King Consta milne was declared depos-
ed at a great mass meeting at Saloniki
and an Athens dispatch says the kings
followers are deserving to the provis-
ional government in increasing num-
bers.
Russ Again OH Move in Forest.
Mesopotamia offers the second
point of interest. with an announce
ment from Petrograd that Russian
troops are again on the move along
the Persian border. The unexplained
inaction of these forces was believed
in some quarters to have been re-
sponsible for the sudden halt in the
victorious advance of the British army
from Bagdad. General Maude's sue
cesses had resulted in practically sur
rounding the Turkish army in Meso-
potamia when the Russian withdrawal
from Mush and the hating of the
Russian drive from Persia changed
the situation. The condition of affairs
in this remote region is still. however,
obscure and presents possibilities rath-
er than probabilities.