The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-05-07
FRENCH CAPTURE
$4,000 TEUTONS
SINCE APRIL IS
Everywhere Victorious, Says
NiveIIe's Report Today.
British and French Hang On to
All New Positions.
Try TO GET BACK CRAONNE
BattaliOns AnnihiIated in En-
fort to Regain FrOidmOnt.
English Into BullecOurt Today,
Taking Prisoners.
British and French Hang On to
All New Positions.
TRY TO GET BACK CRAONNE

British Headquarters in France
May Z, via. London, las p m--Ihe
British have pushed their way we'll
within the town of Bullecourt- Hand
to hand fighting has developed there.
Renewed fighting broke out about
Bullecourt today. The BRITISH VINO
had been holding positions south ahd
east of the village where they had
been violently attacked during the last
four days, moved forward just before
dawn in a general attack upon the
village itself.
There has been patrol fighting in
Bunecourt before this but todays at
tack was of an enveloping nature. 1t
met with stubborn resistance, but
steady progress was being made
as this dispatch was written, and
khaki-clad troops have passed We'll
within the town which lies absolutely
astride the Hindenburg line, the front
trench and two systems of support
trenches all being within the village
limits.
Prisoners began coming back soon
after the battle started. English bat
talions made an attack today from the
south and west of Bullecourt. The
attacks were preceded by the usual
violent bombardment- The moon had
shone with wonderful brilliGncy all
thru the night and was just setting as
the infantry climbed out of the shallow
trenches and trudged forward, laden
down with hand grenades- In its
earlier stages the battle was a bombing
contest between the attacking forces
and the defenders, altho it was later
reported that hand to hand fighting
had developed.
Paris. May 7.-Twenty-nine thous-
and German soldiers have been cap
tured by French forces since General
Nivelle's great drive started April 10,
the French official statement an
nounced today.
The war office in thus reporting the
tremendous success achieved in the
French push" said the offensive was
continuing today with the French "ev-
erywhere VIGOROUSLY repulsing coun-
ter attacks."
In the Champagne the statement
said a tremendous German counter
offensive had been completely held in
check. the French continuing to re-
tain all ground gained.
on Sunday evening and Sunday
night, the official statement said, the
Germans violently counter-attacked,
following one of the heaviest periods
of artillery bombardment to which
the French have yet been subjected
The German attacks covered the re-
Eions of scissors and Chemin des
Danes where four fresh divisions Cap
proximately $4,000 mem took part
Heaviest Counter at Craonne.
The heaviest of all the attacks CEN
tered on Craonne, the Vauclere
heights. Cerny, Hurtebise and the
Froidmont farm.
Everywhere" the war office said,
''the French maintained their posi-
lions, VIGOROUSLY repulsing all Ger
man masses, which were smashed by
our artillery and sustained great
losses
Including yesterday $4,000 Ger
mans have been captured in the course
OF the battles starting April 16.
ION the rest of the front the French
repulsed many counter-attacks and
cleaned up enemy trenches near Son
vauxx and east of Montsel."
Fail to Shake British Hold
London, May 7.-Continuous Ger
man counter-attacks since Saturday
have failed to shake the British grip
on the Hindenburg line around Dulle-
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