The Topeka state journal., 1918-10-28
The Armies Are Four Miles
From River.
1000 Prisoners From Enemy
Are Counted So Far.
FRENCH WIN A VICTORY
General Debeney's Army Now
Swings to the East.
Now in Position To Push on
Toward Hirson.

London, Oct. 2S.-British and ItaI-
| ian forces in their offensive in north
ern Italy this afternoon had advanced
for a. distance of four miles beyond
| the Piave river. Seven thousand Aus
| tro-Hungarians were taken prison er.
| The Czechs Win.
Amsterdam, Oct. 2S.-Austria has
handed over entire control of food
supply and distribution TO the Czech
| authorities in Bohemia, Vienna dis
1 patch to the Vossische Ze!tung OF
| Berlin says, with the result that one
hundred carloads of potatoes are on
their way to the famishing Austrian
ca pital.
A dispatch from Prague to the same
| newspaper dated October "a. says that
| in compliance with Il demand made by
| American bankers the Czech govern
| ment will make every effort to have
the new regime in Bohemia come into
operation without excesses.
The correspondent adds that it is
borne oiIt by the entirely calm be-
havior of the Czechs in Prague who
are entitled to credit, at least for the
present for keeping perfect discipline.
Paris, Oct 2s-The French con-
tinue theireadyance between the Disc
and the Aisne, especially on the. left
flank. The war office today reports
the capture of Hill 1913 north of Crecy,
| on the Serre.
Americans There.
| , American units have entered the
fighting east of Rethel and have car
ried out a local operation in which
they made an advance of one kllo-
metre east of Attigny. capturing lI2
prisoners, the war office announced.
The American advance was made In
the region of he'forest Farm south of
| the Aisne between Attigny and Voncq-
| Admit a Withdrawal.
Berlin, Oct. 28.-The German lines
between the Disc and the Serre were
withdrawn Saturday night to line
west of Guise and east of Crecy. Ger
man general headquarters report to-
| day.
Paris, Oct 28-Germany's army has
begun a new retreat. this time between
the Disc and the Aisne. General
Debeneys First army, in the teeth OF
stubborn resistance and repeated coun-
ter attacks, has succeeded in swinging
on it's right flank SO that it faces east
1t has reached Guise and the Guise-
Marie road, driving the enemy be-
fore it.
General Debeney now is in position
| to push rapidly along the upper Disc
valley toward Hirson and Vervins.
thru a level country devoid OF streams.
!
force the enemy opposite the Tentn
4 and Fifth French armies, exhausted
by fruitless counter attacks, to begin
| d backward movement which Is even
| tuaIly bound to extend to the front
before Rethel. This will open to the
Fourth army a double passage of the
Aisne and Ardennes, canal. General
Debeney's success was won by sheer
hard finghting The importance the
enemy attached to stopping this prog
ress up the Disc may be gathered from
the fact that the Germans threw in
| three fresh divisions which were
| knocked out.
Il The French blow, which flattened
out the angle in the enemy's front.
may have a very definite effect on the
German line eastward thru Rethel and
the Argonne forest to the Meuse river.
Lines Further East.
It may be that the Germans have
!, prepared lines further east to which
| thev are now retiring along the Serre :
!. Disc front but they are not apparent
|, On the map. There are few, IL any,
. | natural positions which VIII lend
themselves to defensive operations
! west of Vervin, south of which there
| is broken country. To the north OF
iVeryins there are extensive forests
which might be utilized as cover by
the enemy.
Break Hunding Line.
1t is reported that the Hunding line
is broken near Guise. If this is a fact
. the whole German line south and
north of that city is in danger. Col.
lapse of the enemy's front there would
weaken the lines along the Aisne near
Rethe1. where the French have been
virtually held up for some time. II
the line of the Aisne gives way. the
Germans further east, around the Ar
| gonne forest and nearer the Meuse
must readjust their lines. it would
| seem.
In the neighborhood of Valen.
/, ciennes. the British are still fighting
their way ahead but their progress
, over the restricted front between
Normal forest and the bend of the
| Scheldt is quite slow. Further north
the enemy seems to have established
, himself strongly behind the Scheldt,
and only local successes by the allies
are reported
ii Destroy the Turks.
General AIIapbv'o forraS D,y>~