The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-05-28
Forward on a Twenty.
Mile Front Now.
Larger Effort May Be in Store
Against Amiens.
FLANDERS ATTACK REPULSED
Americans in Picardy Strike
Back and Defeat Hun.
Germans Using Fresh Troops
Not in Former Drive.

Paris, May 28.-The Germans last
night crossed the Aisne between Ber-
ry-Au-Bac and Vailly, it is announced
officially. The battle continues fierce
ly between the Vesle and Aisne rivers
The Germans striking south from
the Chemin des Danes, after carrying
that important ridge in the opening
of their new offensive yesterday. have
crossing of the Aisne river between
-Vailly and Berry-Au-Bac.
This represents a front of nearly
stwenty miles along which the armies
of the crown prince engaged in this
great drive have crossed the Aisne.
In addition they have apparently push
ed forward at points some distance
south of the river and are striking for
the River Vesle. which parallels the
Aisne along the greater part of this
front at an average distance of about
five miles.
The vesle at it's most southerIy
point in this sector, is approximately
ten miles from the German point of
departure but the German penetration
is apparently considerably short of
this depth.
Fierce Battle Continues
The battle is continuing fiercely
along the whole Aisne front today,
VI hhe VI IL DclHS DOTne Dy the
French, before whose lines there was
seemingly the greatest concentration
for the enemy effort.
Ihe french communications are
excellent in this sector. however. and
the probability is that roserves are
speeolly being sent up to the threat
ened area to place before the Ger
mans force that can stop them. The
British, when the battle started. an
parentiy were holding line approxi-
mately twelve miles long between
Bermicourt, seven miles northwest Of
Rheims, and Craonelle, across the
Aisne to the northv est, the line strad-
ding the Aisne at about midway this
distance near Berry-Au-Bac
There Is no indication that the Brit
fected by the shock
Left Flank Hard Hit
! The left flank, however, felt the
erect OF the impact upon the French
front further west where a crossing of
| the Aisne was forced, and the British
left was obliged to fall back in con-.
| formity. The British line to the west
| OF Berry-Au-Bac is now wholly south
/ OF the Aisne, according to the indica-
tions in today's official statement.
The German attack in Flanders was
evidently a subsidiary affair alfho
there was an extremely heavy concen-
tration of troops for the limited front
attacked.
The French bore the brunt of this
blow and repulsed it the Germans
succeeding only in pushing in some-
thing like half mile south of Dicke.
busch lake about four miles southwest
of Ypres. III
This morning the British ana
french made counter attack in this
sector which at latest advices promised
to turn the whole German effort on.
the northern front into costly failure.
Crossed River Yesterday. 81
(By the Associated Press)
London, May 2S.-The Germans are
developing attacks of great strength
along the entire Aisne front.
The Germans yesterday forced q
passage of the Aisne river west of the
British sector, compelling the left of
the British line to fall back, the war
loffice announces.
The enemy maintained pressure all
day yesterday against the British on
the Aisne front.
Severe fighting continues today.
With the French army in France,
May 27.-whether the German attack
north of the Aisne is merely a demon
stration in force with the object Of
drawing the allied reserves cannot be
gathered from the opening stages Of
1.-THE fighting.
The length of the front between the
TANKS on the attacking line seems to
Imply a great effort on the part of the
lenemy to capture territory in order
Ito claim victorious progress imme-
diately after starting and thus i'm
iprove the morale of the German pub
Ilic. Both the French and British
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