The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-07-31
Small in Area but of Great
Strategic Value.
French Now Hold Commanding
Hill on Hun Flank.
HUNS LEFT GREAT STORES
Have Suffered Enormous Losses
of Ammunition.
Moved Their Guns Back Won
derfully Well.

London, Tuesday. July 30.-Altho
the allied gains during the last twenty
four hours may seem small, some of
them had been exceedingly significant,
according to Reuters correspondent at
the American front in France The
chief feature of tie recent Fighting, ne
says, is the French advance from
Oulchy-Le which carried the
villages of Grand Rozoy and Cugny
and swept the Germans off the Butte
of Chalmont. This hill was a center
of enemy resistance along the western
side of the salient.
Hill Taken Is Important.
German guns situated on the Butte
of Chalmont had been able to rake
the SoisSons-Chateau Thierry road al
most as far as Villemontoire and hurl
cross fire upon the advancing French
and American troops in the valley of
the Ourcq. The Fres1ch now are able
to harass from this hill the enemy's
retirement and should be able to clear
the angle between the Soissons-C Cha
teau Thierry road and the railroad
between Oulohy- Chateau and
FIsmes and bring much needed as
sistance to the Americans in the viii
Iage OF Seringes. It will be a costly
task to take the Nesles forest but
there are alternative possibilities in
the comparatively open ground to the
westward. The railroad which is the
key to the Ourcq valley is in allied
hands. The correspondent writes:
retirement According to Plan"
The enemy may certainly plume
hlmSet on his retirement, according
TO plan, but it can -carcely be accord
ing to plan that he left hundreds of
tons of ammunition behind him There
is as yet no conception of the enor-
nous figures to which these losses in
materials of war will run. When the
vast numbers of shells actually cap
tEred are added to the millions of
shells exploded either by himself or
by the allied fire, some idea of his loss
| may be gained The enemy has moved
his guns wonderfully well. but his
gunners have been warned to be spar
ing of ammunition and to fire only
when necessary to support his in
fantry."
Trying to Postpone Retreat.
Paris. July 31.-Strong German re-
| action Tuesday shows, in the opinion
of French military experts, that the
enemy is determined to postpone a
retreat to the Vesle as long as possible
Notwithstanding the wastage in man
! power that policy involves.
The German crown prince has q
| number of good reasons for holding
| up his retirement to the Vesle- First,
| he may desire to prevent the French
| from using the scissors La-Ferte-M Mil
| don railway; second, he may want to
keep the main Paris-Nancy railroad d
| which parallels the Marne within
range of his heavies, and third, he
may want to remove his material
! without too much damage to the Vesle
| line.
| Furthermore, the Germans would be
| unable to use the Rheims Scissors
| road if they retired to the Vesle. Also,
! they would have their backs against
| the Aisne, which would not simplify
I the means of communication in the
| rear.
Signs of Further Retirement.
[ Paris, July 31.-French aerial OBJ
servers, says the Matin, report that
there are signs behind the present
| German battle front of preparations
| for continuation of retirem ent north
| ward. The enemy is destroying much
material and big fires have been seen
The newspapers generally point out
that the fighting Tuesday was marked
by brisk but vain enemy reactions
They believe that the German line OF
resistance has been reached, altho tbs
allies were able to make additional
gains.
Several military experts do not be-
1ieve that the Germans have yet reach.
ed the end of their retiring movement
The Echo De Paris says the Germans
| have thrown five reserve divisions II
the fighting. proving the Importance
the German commanI places on main
tanning its present position which i:
equally good for offense or defense.