The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-03-29
Hun Desperation To Force
Them In Have Failed.
Meanwhile Germany Is Drain
ing Its Reserve Divisions.
BATTLE FRONT DOUBLES
Triangle, ArIeux to
Mont Didier to st. GObain.
Chances for Huns Great Gam
BILE Losing Odds.
BY ED l. KEEN.

Lon6on. March 29.-There is no
reasor vet t. believe that Quarter
master General Ludendorff has in
creased his prospects of winning the
great political gamble-which is the
real character of the German super
offensive.
Every effort thus far made to draw
in the allies reserves mas 1alleo-
Meanwhile the German line has peen
compelled to take an Increasingly
nl.et arious shape simultaneously, the
German command has been forced 20
drain its own reserve past the point
# highest effectiveness
The time undoubtedly is approach
ing when the allies reserves sun IN
tact, will be able to strike where they
Front Twice Former Length.
London, March 29.-The battle
front of the great German drive has
grow1. to nearly twice its original
day.
The offensive opened on compara-
lively straight front, extending from
Arras southwark and slightly east
ward 20 La Fere, distance OF about
fifty miles
The area comprised in the enemy
advance now consists of an irregular
triangle, with Arleux as its northern
point Mont .Didier as its southwest
ern point and the southern edge OF
ST. Gobain forest as its southeastern
point Each of its sides are, roughly,
fifty miles long, in an air line, while
the base is thirty-five miles across.
Fighting North of Arras.
In the original battle line, the
fighting has extended northWard
from Arras to Arleux, distance OF
about five miles and southwark from
La Fere to ST. Gobain forest. a dis
tance of about seven miles But all
sides of this huge triangle are e1-
tremely irregular especially the west
ern sides. Field Marshal Haig, in his
night communique, described the
fighting from south of the SOmme
to northeast of Arras" as a fifty
mile front" The British and French
lines apparently converge at War
villers, about ten miles south of the
Somme. This includes slightly more
than half of the present battle front
From Haig's statement it would ap-
pear. then, that the entire present
| frontage is between ninety and a hun
dred miles.
At several points, notably in the re-
gion of Albert and Mont Didier, the
| Germans have advanced beyond the
| point where their retreat began in
! 1916. The farthest German penetra-
ton is at Mont Didier. which repre-
sents an advance of thirty seven miles
west and south from st. Quentin.
South of the Somme to the north
there was hard fighting Thursday"
Haig's night statement said.
RepuIsed at Arras.
North of the Scarpe, the enemy at
| tackled in great strength this morning.
| South of the Somme there were pow
erful enemy attacks. East of Arras.
| the enemy forced our outpost line in
! hard fighting and the combat contin-
ued at day in our battle positions. The
enemy's assaults were repulsed with
heavy losses.
| South of the Scarpe there was fierce
| fighting around Boyelles, Moyenne-
Vile, Ablainzeville, BLcquoy and Puis-
sieux We beat off determined as
| saults.
"At Dernacourt. the enemy was
driven out a second time and lost
many men in killed and prisoners.
"Arvillers. Vrely. Hamel and differ
ent localities changed hands. Our po-
sitions were substantially maintained" /"
Berlin Reports Villages Captured.
The Berlin night statement said
merely:
There were engagements along the
| Scarpe and Ancre. Between the
Somme and Avre strongly defended
villa ges We're taken"
The Paris night communique said:
THE battle continues. The enemy
losses are extremely heavy. We re-
tired in an orderly manner west of
Mont Didier."