The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-03-25
REACH MIDDLE
OF OLD S0MME
BATTLE GROUND
Berlin Also Claims Capture of
500 British Guns.
Important City of Bapaume
Falls Before Hun Drive.
ALSO TAKE GUISCARD, CHAUNY
Berlin Declares SOmme Cross
ing Has Been Forced.
Kaiser Orders Celebration
Over Capture of PerOnne.
Important City of Bapaume
Falls Before Hun Drive.
ALSO TAKE GUISCARD, CHAUNY

Berlin. March 25.-Tke Germans
arc now standing to the north of the
Somme in the middle of the former
Somme battlefield. says today's official
statement. Bapaume was captured in
night fightins.
In the evening Nesle was taken by
storm, the statement adds. British,
American and French were thrown
back thru a painless wooded country.
More thar $4,000 prisoners and
more than 500 guns have been cap
tured. the statement says.
Passa ge of the ~Somme river was
forced below Ham. the Beflin war
Office announced today
Rcinforcements Failed British.
..We mounted the heihgts west of
the Somme," the statement continued
Divisions freshly brought up failed
to bring a decision in favor of the
enemy" the statement said
I'm the evening, they were defeated
and ,streamed westward" it was de-
clared.
Near Bapaume the enemy was
Northeast of Bapume German
troops broke thru and drove the enemy
back by way of Ytres and Sally
Hot fighting is in progress for the
possession Of Combles.
Nesle was stormed during the even
ing
capal We're captured.
Guiscard and Chauny have been
CAPTURED the statement said.
Enemy losses are unusually heavy.
Field Marshal Haig. in his official
statement admitted the Germans
crossed the Somme south of Peronne
near Licourt. but declared they were
driven back 1t is not plain whether
the Berlin war office and Haig re-
ferred to the same action.
Combles is midway between Ba-
paume and Peronne 1t is thirteen
miles west of Villers. the nearest point
in the line previous to the start of the
offensive.
Nesle is fifteen miles south of Pc
rome and seven miles west of Ham
the capture of which had been admit
ted by the British.
Nesle is eighteen miles west of the
original line and if it is in German
hands. claimed by Berlin. thi.
marks the farthest enemy advance tt
date.
turns westward to Ham. then swing!
north to Peronne. 1t passes three mile.
east of Nesle.
Is Important City.
Bapaume is on the northern part O
the battle front where the British linz
TOT the most part mas Deen nelO. IL
one of the larger towns on the fight
ing front. from which a number o
roads radiate The official German
statement of Sunday night said
gigantic struggle was taking place TO
the town. 1t is thirteen miles below
Arras.
Haig admitted the enemy gained
slight foothold in the new British line
north of Bapaume during powerful at
tacks Sunday evening, but declare,
they were later driven out.
Kaiser Orders Celebration.
Amsterdam, March 25. = Kaise
Wilhelm and Field Marshal Hinden
burg visited Peronne, Sunday evening
according to Berlin dispatches receiv
ed here today.
The kaiser ordered flags hoisted
rockets fired and schools given a hol
iday thruout Germany. in celebration
of Peronne's capture.
The German losses in taking Ba
paume were comparatively heavy,
the dispatches said.