The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-07-27

From June II until July Is the
Germans were engaged in shifting
their forces and then they again
struck. This time the line of attack
around to the north of Rheims and
then down the Vesie river to Prunay
and from that village eastward to
Massiges. This attack at the close of
the year developed into one of the
most ambitious of the German strokes.
over a wide front but were unable to
make ground against American
troops near Chateau Thierry and could
not advance rapidly further east. They
did, however. forge ahead on the
north side OF the Marine and between
Rheims 1t appeared for a time that
they might reach Epernay. Then
General Foch struck a counter blow,
which is still in progress American
and French troops attacked the Ger
mans between Fontenoy, on the Aisne,
west of Scissors, and BelIeau, on the
Cignon, northwest of Chateau Thier-
~. So sudden and powerful was the
blow that the Germans fell back
rapidly until their reserves could be
hurried up. The rapid advance Of
the allies. however. SO meHaced the
German forces further~south that on
July IS, the enemy began a retreat
across the Marine. Then on Sunday,
July 81. French and Americans en-
tered Chateau Thierry and pressed on
after the retiring Germans.
Since that time the allies have
gained slowly, but steadily. not only
south of Scissors, but also north of
Rheims. There are indications that a
German retreat from the salient is
now underway.
Italians Stand Firm.
On June Is, the Austrians began a
drive against Italy. 1t was q failure.
The Austrians crossed the Piave, but
on the west bank met with such stub
born resistance that progress was i'm
possible. Slowly the Austrians were
driven back toward the river. and
then the Piave, swollen by rains in
the mountains, completed the over
throw of Austria's hopes. After suf-
fering terrible losses the Anstrians re-
treated to the ea+ern bank of the
Piave from the MonteIlo plateau to the
Adriatic.
I1nor Operations.
Among the years operations OF
comparatively lesser Importance were
the British drives in Palestine and
Mesopotamia; the Turkish advance in
the Caucasus; the French and italian
offensive in Albania, and the fighting
in the German African colonies
British on December 10, and shortly
afterward the fall of Jericho was an
nounced- Since the taking of Jericho
! the British forces in Palestine have
not teen active on the offensive.
General Maude led tRe British
shortly afterward died from cholera
His forces pushed farther up the
Tigris until the intense heat of sum-
| mer terminated operations.
The Turks after the collapse of Rus
STA. took advantage of the demoralize6
| condition of the Russian forces to ad-
vance thru the Caucasus and obtair
possession of the region subsequently
ceded them by the treaty of Brest-
| Litovsk-
The French and Italian drive ir
Albania drove German forces befors
them in German East africa and il
German Southwest Africa and finally
compelled them to dispense or sur.
render. This took from Germany the
! last of the vast colonial possession.
held by her when the war began.
! Submarine Warfare.
The past year has been marked BY
| a gradual decline of submarine sink.
ings as compared with the number
| OF ships being built by the entent,
| allies. The operations OF the British
| and American destroyers have spread
| terror among the ''wasps of the sea,
| while a great mine field completed il
! May by the British navy converted viz
| tually the whole North sea into al
area closed against the U-boat activi
| ties.
The harbors of Zeebrugge anC
| Ostend. from which German sub
| marines had been operated agains
| entente shipping, were either sealet
| entirely or made virtually valueIess a
| submarine bases by daring naval ant
| air raids SHY the British in May.
| U-Boats in American Waters.
| German submarines visited Ameri
| can waters in June and sank at leas
| ten ships, the field Of the U-boa
| operations being from the north New
| Jersey coast south to the Virgins
| capes and easterly half way to TIL
| Bermudas.
! The only United States transpor