The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-06-04
French Gains Counterbalance
German Minor Advances.
Allies Now Are Checking Kali
ser's Troops Everywhere.
RHEIMS NEARLY SURROUNDED
Huns Within Mile of City on
the Three Weak Sides.
Many German Planes Brought
Down by Our Airmen.
(By the Associated Press.)

(By the Associated Press.)
The allies are now checking the
German armies everywhere.
Terrific struggles took place today
when fresh German divisions entered
the limo between the Ourcq and Disc
rivers trying with the greatest deter
mination to enter the forest OF VII
lers-Cotterets. The town OF Favor
Giles on the edge of the forest wa1
retaken by the allies, after the most
fierce fighting in which the French
displayed utmost heroism against
superior numbers.
Choisy hill, north of the Aisne near
Choisy-Au-Bac was the scene of ter
rifle fighting. The height changed
hands five times and eventually was
carried in an assault by a battalion
which had distinguished itself in the
defense of Verdun.
A cavalry corps executed one OF the
most brilliant performances of the
war by marching $50 miles and i'm
mediately joining in the hottest part
of the battle where it fought off en-
envy attacks, causing heavy losses to
the Germans.
Force Is Spent
On the Aisne battle field the Ger
man advance is waning If it has not
already been stopped before the des-
Sunday the enemy progress was
slight while on Monday the French
and German gains on the western wing
balanced each other.
Now that the force Of the German
blow has nearly spent itself the often
sive Is turning into a series of battles
for important positions.
Before the forest of Villers-Cotterets
and between the Ourcq and the Marine
the Germans are making violent ef-
forts to drive the French from advan-
tageous positions. Villages on the
eastern edge OF the forest have been
taken and retaken by the bitterly con-
testing forces but the Germans despite
fresh troops are gaining but slightly.
Attacks Break Down.
The situation north Of the Aisne is
similar. There the French have re.
captured Mont Choisy for the fifth
time. German attacks elsewhere be-
tween the Aisne and the Disc on the
line between Noyon and Scissors have
been repulsed. West of Scissors the
enemy has been held for no gains, al
tho Berlin in its latest report claims
progress here and to the south.
Heavy attacks by the Germans be-
tween the Ourcq and the Marine to
take the hills around Cocherel broke
Marine the activity has been slight
| while from the Marine to Rheims the
allied troops maintain their positions
Rheims is reported almost three
fpurths surrounded by the Germans
| Who are within a mile Of the city or
| the north, northwest, west and south
west and east. On the British from,
| the fighting still is confined to raids
British airmen continue their bomb
| ing operations and have accounted
| for % more German airplanes.
There has been heavy artillery fir
| ing on the American sector northwest
| of Toul, but no infantry action. II
| aerial combats there another German
machine has been brought down. Ar
American patrol east of Luneville at.
| ter being surrounded by a superior
enemy force fought its way thru tc
the American line suffering only Sigh,
| losses