The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-08-23
MIGHTY BATTLE
tcontinued from Page one.l

Continued from Page One.I
heaviest fire from the French artillery.
(By the Associated Press-,s
British and German armies are
locked in a mighty battle today over
twenty-five mile front from 1ihonss
six miles south of the Somme river, te
the Cojeul river. southwest OF Arrass
Mis- combat, which began with the
British attack against the enemy pos
sitions east of the Ancre river on
Wednesday. now has spread into one
of the greatest battles of the allied
offensive in Picardy. 1t is officially
reported from London that the Brit-
ish are making progress at some
points and that Gerrpan attacks east
Of Beaucourt at about the middle OF
British apparently still are on the ag-
gressive along the whole line. :
French Push In Along Disc.
French troops have occupied the
southern banks of the Disc and the
Ailette between Sempigny. south of
Noyon, to the railroad bridge west
| of Courey-Le-Cha
South of Courcy-Le-Chateau they
have reached the outskirts of Guny
brings them still further toward the
rear of the German forces holding the
hills north of Scissors and within
three miles of the German positions
north of Chemin-des-Dames. as they
stood before the offensive of May 27,i
German Line Is Wavering.
Shaken by the allied assaults on the
northern and southern ends of the
Picardy battle front the German line
is wavering. Along the Disc the
enemy apparently is retreating precip-
itately. Allied pressure continues
strong along the whole front. Unless
the enemy can stop the onrush. par
ticularly in the south. his territorial
gains of the present year are in a fair
way to be wiped out Further, If
either of the allied strokes can break
thru, the old Hindenburg line itself
| will be imperiled.
French Advance on 3O-NIilc Front.
In the south the French are pushing
forward on a front of thirty miles east
and west of Noyon. weakening the
| German line around Roye and north
ward, and providing a grave menace
to the Vesle-Aisne line thru the cross
| ing of the Ailette and the Oise-Aisne
canal northwest of scissors. North of
| the Somme and the Ancre to Mercatel,
the British keep doggedly at it after
| having captured Albert and 5000
prisoners. South of the bend in the
Ancre they have crossed the stream to
| the east on a six-nile front for a gain
| of two miles.
Noyon Under Fire.
Noyon, a pivot of the German lines
in Picardy. still holds out. but the
town. and the surrounding heights are
| under the fire of the French cannon.
| West of Noyon, the French are on the
Divette for a, distance of almost five
| miles. The Disc has been reached on
| a front of ten miles south and east of
| Noyon, and has been crossed at several
| points. So hurried was the German
withdrawal from south of the Disc
|
| the bridges across the stream They
| also left behind much material and
more than 200 guns. French cavalry
| and airplanes are harassing the retir-
| ing enemy and over the German posi-
| tons of two days, even one day ago.
French guns and infantry are rushing
northward. Except west of the Disc
| and along the sharp salient north OF
scissors, the Germans show little signs
of holding, and probably will retire to
beyond the Disc canal, which parallels
the river on the north.
Germans Fight Haig Hard
| Most stubborn have been the COM
bats on the front north of the Somme
and Field Marshal Haig has had to
| face bitter resistance all along the
front. His pressure continues, how
| ever, and his success around Albert
probably will provide leverage to push
the Germans farther east, north and
south of that sector. North of the
Ancre the British and Germans are
struggling violently for possession of
| towns along the Arras-Albert railway
and the Arras-Bapaume road. but the
British have held to their gains.
| Probably the most, vital sectors to
the Germans at present are those
from Roye to Noyon and that north
west of Scissors.
If the first should waver and fall
back, the German position north to
the Somme would have to be read
Justed. The salient northwest of Sois-
sons possibly is most important be-
| cause if it should fall the French
would have the heights of Chemin-
Des-Dames -outflanked and be in a
| position to menace Laon. Continued
/ French pressure on this salient would
appear to have the effect of forcing
the Germans to retreat from the Vesle
within a few days at most.
i American troops north of the Vesle
have increased the security of their
position by cleaning out an important
point north of Fismes. The Germans
attempted counter attack but were
thrown back with a. loss Along the
remainder of the Vesle the allied pres