The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-04-29
Weekly Review of Washington
Gives Official Word.
Men Have Acquitted Them
selves Well, 1t Is Said.
TROOPS MUST Be RUSHED
Germans Are Seeking Final De-
ciSion Immediately.
Enemy Pressure Is Increasing
Northwest of TOul.


to reinforce the allied armies nave
taken mart in the fighting is made to-
day bY the war department IN It's
weekly review of the situation.
our forces have taken part IN the
battle" says the statement orleIly:
american units are in action east OF
Amiens. During the engagements
which have ragged in this area. they
have acquitted themselves we'll
The review. in emphasizing the I'M
mediate need of fresh men to Win
stand the German onslaught, adds that
Americas imperative duty is to pro-
vide replacement units for the french
front.
In addition TO those already called
TO the colors'' says the statement,
land those training at our canton
snents or already selected for service
very large quotas will be required in
the Immediate future to fill the gaps.
In this connection the review points
out that THE enemy is seeking decl-
sion that will end the war and the out
rome of the present operations de-
ponds upon man power
: The statement mentions the attack
on American positions at Seicheprey,
northwest of Toul. Here on April 20.
the review says, the Germans swept
over American lines on a front OF three
kilometres, but subsequently gave up
the ground occupied.
The Official Statement
The statement follows:
The outcome of the present opera
lions in the west depends on man.
power.
rally on rifles. machine guns and man
power and carefully thought out meth
eds of transporting and supplying mu-
nitions to the front of attack under all
conditions. which means that they
have developed mobility of offensive
action that can only be met by coun-
ter measures of equal potency and
flexibility
"A battle of such magnitude as the
one being fought in the west cannot
be decided by any single engagement.
yet there arise a. series of crises on
which the ultimate outcome depends.
These crises have, up to the present,
in a large measure resulted favorably
to the enemy.
Aimed to ParaIyze British.
THE vigorous attacks driven against
the British lines were intended to
paralyze the independent will power
of the British command. In this the
eremy has failed.
Unity of command of the allies
has extended operations to the broad
eI field of general engagements in
which all the allieo forces will hence
forth be used interchangeable bly,.
This change in tho combat situa-
ton has materially altered the mo-
r1ent of decision of the offensive. In
stead of the enemy being able to de-
feat the British army and then turn
its full energy against the French, the
allies are now able to oppose their
full United strength to the hostile
attack.
Enemy Seeks Decision.
at must constantly be borne in
mind that the enemy is seeking a de-
cision that will, end the war. This
decision can only be arrived at by
the destruction of the allied forces
in the rield before fresh units con-
tTibuted from additional levies in
France and Great Britain as well as
by our own troops can take up their
position in sufficient numbers to turn
the German successes to defeat.
ours is the imperative duty of
providing replacement units for the
Imies in France. We must be able
70 put fresh men in the field thoroly
and methodicaIly trained. In addition
10 those already called to the colors
and now training at our environments
or already selected for service. very
large quotas will be required in the
immediate future to fill the gaps.
Operations of the week reveal that
the enemy, taking advantage of the
re-entering angles stretching from the
Avre northwestward and from Wyts-
Operations after period of relative
calm.
An Envcloping Movement.
ut is not difficult to follow the
strategic conception of the German
higher command An envelopine
movement is outlined. which on the
one hand is to force the retirement OF
the British from Arras and if wholly
successful, result in the capture OF
both ArraS and Amiens; on the other
by the occupation of the important
heights of KENNEL to wipe out the
Ypres salient and throw the British
line back to Hazebrouck and Poper-
.inghe.
iAmiens has been we'll contained. The
British are holding firmly in the face
of furious ssaults.
Our own forces have taken par
in the battle. American units are ir
faction in the area east of Amiens
During the various engg gements which
have ragged in this area they have &C
quilted themselves we'll
Loss of Mont KENNEL.
I'm Flanders the situation is les:
satisfactory. Last week the Germans
drove a strong thrust against thG
segment of the line held by the Bel
gians This was well met and this
enemy was unable to make any head
way.
Germans replaced their depleted units
and brought up supplies and NUM-
tions another principal assault was
launched with Mont KENNEL as its
Objective. In the region from the
Ypres-Comines canal to Dranoutre
violent fighting has again developed al
a result of which the enemy was able
TO capture Dranoutre, gain the sum-
init of KENNEL, and reach Locre
Fighting continues in this area with
unprecedented stubbornness and the
advance of the enemy has not beer
definitely checked. The loss of Nom
KENNEL is a serious menace to the
British positions in Flanders.
Northwest of foul enemy pressure