The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-07-07
Violent Offensive Launched, Ar
tilIery Leyeling City.
Is Second Thrust by SlavS Since
Revolutions Lul1.
HAIG HITS ON BELGIAN FRONT
Advances Line Slightly in the
Lys-Ypres Triangle.
Germans Abandon Counter Of
fenSive on French Near La0n.,

Petrograd. July violent fighting
has begun on the Russian front west
of Pinsk. The city of Pinsk is in
flames, according to an announcement
today by the semi-official news
agency.
The Russian artillery, the announces
ment says, is levelling all obstacles.
The opening of the battle of Pinsk
marks the second effort of the Rus
slams after the long period of quiet
which followed the revolution. the
point selected for this attack is about
IFS miles north of the sector in East
Galicia along which the Russians
made their first onslaught resulting
in the capture of about $4,000 men In
two days. Pinsk is at the middle If
the Russo Galician battle line.
Germans Took City i'm 1915
There has been no heavy fighting in
this region since the conclusion of the
great Austro-German drive which be-
gan in the spring of 1915. During the
summer the Russians were driven out
of western Galicia, Poland and most
| of the Baltic provinces. Pinsk was
captured by the Germans on Septem-
Der Is, at the high tide of the Aus
| tro-German invasion. subsequently
| the Russians held up the Germans
on the Riga front and since that time
the heaviest actions have been fought
on the northern end of the line or in
Ga1icia.
! Pinsk had a population of about
10000 before the war. 1t lies within
the great marsh and swamp region
of White Russia, about on a line east
of Warsaw.
| Smash Again in Belgium.
London. July Field Marshal
Haig struck today east of Wytschaete,
advancing the British line slightly,
according 20 his formal report to the
war office.
Est of wytsch-ete our line was
| again slightly advanced" was the
British commander-in-ch chiefs iaconic
report. -f -. -....--
On Thursday Haig reported a drive
by the British which had gained them
| additional ground around Hollebeke.
Today's report is of another push for
ward in practically the same legion.
probably around Oostaverne. Both
cities lie in the sharp angle formed
by the river Lys and the canal from
Ypres to Lille. The two waterways
converge at Confines.
For several days now. Haig has not
mentioned any fighting around Lens,
combining his reports to the Belgian
front.
Abandon Laon Offensive
Paris July 7.-Germany has appar-
emily been convinced of the fruitless-
ness of her nter-offensive against
the French south of Laon. Tcday's
French official report detailed ces-
sation of fighting in that region and
a resumption of artillery activity at
another part of the line east of
Rheims. in the Laroyere Pantheon
and south of Moronvillers. The night
was calm elsewhere.
In the period from June FL to June
80, the statement said. nineteen enemy
aeroplanes and one captive balloon
had been downed. Fourteen others.
seriously damaged. were seen to fall
within the enemy lines.
During this period the enemy sta
tons at Rechicourt and Avricourt and
installations around Beine and the
Suipene valley were bombarded
Last night enemy aircraft bombed
Epernay south of Nancy.