The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-09-30
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CONTINUED from Page One.)
and Metz. is imminent Some believe
he has hung on too long and that he
will have great difficulty in preventing
his retreat from .degenerating into
rout.
Victory in Sight.
"As for Foch, as for Napo1en," says
Major De Civrivieux in the Matin, Ito
conquer is not to push back an enemy
behind the lines previously fixed upon,
but gripping him everywhere, to break
the integrity of his forces and then
hurl him disjointed and destroyed on
the road to irreparable defeat. Like
all great dramas which have changed
the face of the world. the one which is
being played during these fateful
hours will bring triumph.
"Victory is in sight"
Hun Strength Failing.
An examination of one section of
the % mile front on which General
Gouraud is attacking In the Cham
payne, will give an idea of the Ger
man wastage. On the eve of the at
tack, General Ludendorff. feeling I'M
easy, reinforced the defenders with
two or three divisions. After two days
fighting he threw in ten more divi-
sions. This twelve or thirteen divi-
sions have been used up on a front of
% miles only. From this the speed at
which the German strength is being
whitfield away may easily be calcu-
lated.
Decisive Phase of War.
The soberest and most conservative
observers here consider that yesterday
marked the first step in the decisive
phase of the war. The Belgians are
close to Roulers, the British marching
up the Les. will outfiank Lille. the
Siegfried line is going to pieces at two
vital points, namely Cambria and ST.
Quentin, the fall of which places is
considered a question of hours, LIE
Catelet, the central pillar of the Hin
denburg system, is outhanlsed; Cen
eral Mangin is driving the enemy
north of the Chemin des Danes; Cen
eral Gouraud is at the gates of Chaile-
range on his way to Vouziers. the kew
to the lateral railroad communications
of the Germans.
tBy tie Associated Press,
AS result of terrific attacks by the
allies over five sectors, the aggregate
length of which is more than 100
miles, the German positions in France
appear to be in imminent peril.
From the North sea, as far south as
the st. Quentin region. a tremendous
battle is now flaming up, with the
Belgfans on the extreme north cutting
deep into the positions the enemy has
held since 1914, and with the Ameri-
cans. British and French smashing
and st. Quentin.
Northeast of scissors, north of the
Aisne, the French have gained the
crest of the ridge along which runs the
famous Chemin des Danes, from
which the Germans apparently are
hastily retreating. r.
In the Champagne sector, General
Gouraud's French army has smashed
its way ahead toward the vital Ger
man positions west of the ArgonDe
forest.
Yanks Smashing Thru.
East of that forest and west of the
Meuse. General Liggett's American
my's resistance as it irresistibly rolls
northward. Everywhere the Germans
are fighting with desperate valor.
There is little Indication that the
morale OF the enemy has broken down
under the sledgehammer blows of the
allies. 1t is only by fighting of the
bitterest character that the gains
made during the past day have been
possible. Realizing that he stands
with his back to the wall. and in dan
ger OF disaster. the enemy is battling
with all the resources at his disposal
are forced to break and his entire
| army in France is forced to retreat
toward Germany.
Attack ON Wings.
Reports during the past day would
seem to indicate that Marshal Foch's
strategy in the present battle of bat
ties is very similar to that followed
curing curing the Marne. Somme and St.
Mfhiel drives. He is attacking the
wings of the German positions and in
tends by exerting pressure there to
compel the center of the enemy line
to retire.
Again the offensive tactics of the
1 a -
pincer which is slowly but inexorably
closing.
Menace U-Boat Bases.
Far to the north. the Belgians have
cut deep into the German positions
and not only threaten the enemy SUBJ
marine bases along the Belgian coast,
put also place the German line further
south in extreme peril.
Cambria is now near its fall. appar-
emily, and south of that town the allies
are far across the St. Quentin canal
which was the key of the whole posi-
ton north of St. Quentin. Further
south the French seem to have COM
pletely outfianked st. Quentin and cut
1t off from the German strongholds al
Lafere and in the ST. Gobain forest.
Success by the French along the
ridge between the Ailette and Aisne
rivers makes 1t very impossible for the
enemy to hold his line there Already
a retirement in this sector is admitted
by Berlin. 1t would seem that this
retrograde movement will compel the
Germans to relocate their front north
and east of Rheims.
In Range OF Vouchers.
In the Champagne sector Genera
Gouraud is slowly moving nearer Il
Challe range and his long range can
non are now within range of vouzires
one of the principal German bases OF
that front.
l. owing north along the west side o
the Meuse river and are threatening tt