The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-04-21
Germans Battered Back, Report
Niyelle and Haig.
English Advance a Mile, Cap
turing GOnnelieu.
FIERCE ARTILLERY BATTLE
Hurls Devastation Among Ger
mans Near Rheims.
French Center Thrust on Ger
man Fort at Mont Haut.

London, April 21.-Field Marshal
Heig smashed another blow at Cam
brai today-and advanced more than
n mile toward that stronghold Of the
Hindenburg line. His capture of Con
nelieu was announced in an official
statement today.
The British commander-in-ch chief re =
ported sharp fighting in this district
He likewise detailed repulse of a Ger
man attack delivered at Fauquissart
and considerable artillery firing at a
number of places along the front.
With the capture of Gonnelieu,
Haig's steel line paralleling the Camp
rai-St Quentin highway had been
showed one mile closer to Cambria and
a driving angle for a blow on that
city formed reaching from Havrin-
court and Villers Plouich to Gonnelieu
on the north to Nillers-G -Guislain and
Epehy on the south.
During the night we captured Con
nelieu after sharp fighting, taking 4
number of prisoners" the report said.
''An enemy party attempted to enter
our trenches in the neighborhood of
lerying was active at a number of
places during the night"
Gain Ground North of Rheims
Paris. April 21.-More ground was
gained by French attacks north of
Rheims today while General Nivelle's
forces beat back German attacks upon
the positions around Mont Haut which
were wreSted from the enemy a few
days ago.
The French official statement, an
nouncing these details of the past
twenty-four hours fighting. declared
heavy losses had been inflicted upon
the Germans in the Mont Hant re-
pulse.
ARTILLERY was active during the
night north of the Aisne in the region
of Nanuil Ia Fosse and Hautebise," the
statement said. "Cannonading was
particularly violent east of Craonne
and north of Rheims.
French forces gained ground in
grenade fighting south of Juvincourt
and east of Courcy."
(Juvincourt lies five miles due east
of Craonne and about fifteen miles
miles northwest of Rheims.)
"a German attack on Mont Haut
was repulsed with losses to the enemy.
French detachments raided Ger
man lines west of Maison de Cham
payne, imprisoning forty Germans
Confront German Strongholds.
General Nivelle maintains his unre-
lenting pressure at the most vital point
of the enemy defenses, the sharp angle
at which the German line running
south from Lens, turns east toward
Rheims. This angle already has been
crushed appreciably and is in i'm
minent danger of being shattered en-
tirely. The heavy toll of prisoners
taken by the French mounts steadily,
day by day, giving strong support to
the claims made in London and Paris
of deterioration of the German
morale.
Three great obstacles stand in the
path of General Nivelle. The first is
the formidable and sinister Brimont
plateau, the height from which the
German guns have poured their shells
on the Rheims cathedral. The French
are at the foot of this plateau and by
a double thanking movement are en-
deavoring to isolate it. The second
great barrier is the almost similar sit
uated Fort De Malmaison, which
stands between General Nivelle and
Laon. on the road from Laffaux.
Third obstacle is the Upper Coucy for
est, a densely wooded plateau which
held up the French in their initial
drive from scissors.
While the French guns thunder
against these three German strong
holds there is comparative inactivity on
the British front. That General Haig is
preparing for another tremendous
blow is taken for granted and London
believes that this blow will not be
withhold long