The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-08-05
FIGHT
ALONG
vESLE!!
ENEMY RESISTS
STUPBoRNLY ON
BANK OF RIVER
Strong Resistance Encountered
by Allies on VeSle.
German Artillery Fire Heaviest
in Two Days.
MOVE INWARD ON HUN FLANKS
Allies Are Seeking To Turn
New Enemy Positions.
Have Crossed River at Fismes,
BazOches and JOnchery.
MANY PRISONERS ARE TAKEN
"Number Will Thrill Allied
World" Says Paris.
Further Allied Advance VIII
Endanger Picardy Salient.
CBy the Associated PressJ

With the French Armies in France,
Aug. ., 1880 p. m.-Gernan resistance
along the banks of the Aisne and Vesle
rivers is growing more stubborn. AL
lied patrols which have crossed these
rivers have met with the sternest re-
sistance.
In the neishborhood of Muizon, on
the south side of the Vesle, the Ger
mans fought fiercely last evening be-
fore they were forced back The bat
tie was especially severe around the
vautes farm and the adjacent woods.
On the end of the line nearest Rheims.
a heavy artillery duel is going on.
The Germans, it was indicated by
official and staff dispatches today,
may make stronger resistance along
the Vesle lire than had been expected.
Altho the allies have established
bridgeheads a. Fismes. BaZoches and
Jonchery and are moving inward from
the flanks north of that line the
French war office reported that else
where strCnG resistance has been en-
countered above the river. At the
same time, dispatches from staff cor
respondents stated boche artillery has
opened tbs most violent fire in the last
two days.
The most important geographical
objective now Immediately before the
allies is the town Of Vailly on the
north bank of the Aisne, nine miles
east and north of scissors. 1t is about
two miles east of the junction of the
Nesle and Aisne and four miles north
of the Vesle.
1t is the center of a highway VS.
tenn and is on the railway which fol-
lows the Aisne from scissors to
Neufchatel.
The German retirement north of
Montdidier, on the Picardy front, re-
ported IN last nights Paris COM
munique. was made on front of more
than eleven miles, between Castel and
Mesnil-St. Georges. 1t reached a max
imum depth of about two miles. 1t
included most of the American sector,
as Meslin-St. Georges is mile and Il
half west of Montdidier and two miles
southeast of Cantigny.
Paris, Aug 4.-Reports from the
front state that large German units
and masses of artillery were trans
ferred to the other side of the Aisne.
All the bridges over the river have
been blown up.
The allies are believed to have oc-
cupied virtually the whole Vesle inc
and even to have crossed on the ex-
treme right wing near Rheims. They
hold a bridgehead on the north bank
of the Aisne on the other extremity Of
the line near scissors.
1t is an interesting question if he
allied commanders will permit the
enemy to establish himself quietly in
his new positions. This does not seem
likely at present.
Allies Cross VesIe.
Paris. Aug. 1O:50 a. m. Allied
troops have established two strong
bridgeheads on the north bank of the
Fes!e-at Bazoehes. three miles " sst
of Fismes, and at Jonchery, six miles
east of Fismes.
The German losses in the Fismrs
region have been as severe as At ;Lnv
point in the retreat, it is reported. In
cit ded in the material captured by
the allies are 100000 shells Of II
millimeter caiiber
Stree July Is, Won Hindenburg has
engaged ST divisions e1.044,O men),
including A. DIVISIONS (564000 len)
IN the AIarne pocket.
Huns Prepare 10 Assume Defensive.
(By tie Associated Pressl
Weakened by the defeat suffered OF
the Soissons-Rheims front the Ger
mans apparently are preparing to az
su,ne The defensive on the front from
Ypres to I:heiIns.
Waile continuing their retirement
tuward the Aisne, the Germans have
AbandCnel good defensive positions in
Picardy. east IF Amiens. The move
merits north aid south OF the Somme
have heen oni% local in character, but
are an indication that the German
commend is aware of the danger al
an allied attack north Of the present
Battlefield.
Bt.ttecT SoisSons and Rheims the
Vesie virtually has been cleared OF
cneIny troops ard Fismes is in the
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