The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-05-09
BRITISH COUNTER
TAKES FLANDERS
GAINS FROM HUN
g
Germans Pay Dearly for Posi-
y ton, Then Lose 1t.
&
Heavy Enemy Attack Resumed
on Flanders Front.
BOCHE AIM is RAIL CENTER
american Sectors Quiet on Ac-
~ count of Bad Weather.
Baker Announces Over 100000
Men Now in France.

Men Now in France.
Paris. May s.-Heavy artillery
fighting both sides of the Avre
river, on the front below Amiens, is
reported IN today's official commune
cation.
~ London, May BY a counter at
tack last night by the British troops.
the Germans were driven from the
portions of the allied front line they
had entered on the Flanders front in
the La Clytte-Voormezeele sector. the
war office announced today.
Further progress was made last
night by the British on the front east
of Amiens between the Somme and
Ancre rivers.
a In Flanders the Germans have re-
turned to the attack but apparently
Only in a strong local attempt to out
flank the positions of Locre, Scher-
Fenberg and Mont Rouge, which they
we're unable to take by frontal
liberation. While this may be the
Beginning of another furious battle
on the sector where the enemy met
disastrous defeat ten days ago, indi-
cations are that the attack is not in
very great force. altho the fighting is
Intense.
Give and Take.
: Pushing against the Anglo French
forces on a five mile front yesterday
between Voormezeele and La Clytte
the Germans gained the allied front
in the center but were repulsed else
where, the French even making
slight advance of their own south of
La Clytte. In the center the allied
troops continue the fighting in an eff
tort to throw the Germans out of the
no hn.r rr1t,H r-n1
= Seemingly the Germans are attack
ing in the hope of driving the allies
back toward the KENNEL Beck river
and its branches or beyond Poper--
tnghe and thus outflank the heights
cunning west from Mont KENNEL.
Very heavy losses were inflicted on
the enemy in his previous strong eff
fort to penetrate this line and the line
about Locre and its adjoining hills.
1t may be the attack is only a mask
for a stronger effort elsewhere, altho
tn break thru the Voormezeele-Locre
line might be of marked advantage to
the enemy.
Two Hun Divisions Used.
> Yesterdays attack on the Flanders
line was carried out by two German
divisions. Heavy casualties were in
flicted upon them by the British
forces.
Voormezeele is about one and two
thirds miles directly south of YpreS,
while La Clytte is three miles south
and west of Voormezeele and about
n mile and a quarter northwest of
kemmel. The center of this sector
would be about at Dickebusch lake.
which lies slightly more than two
miles southwest of Ypres
- French Advanced Line.
During the night, however, the
French advanced their line south of
Ia Clytte, taking a number of
prisoners.
:. Regarding this fighting in Elan
ders, the German war office in it's day
report, said "the artillery battle was
revived at Mont KENNEL and to the
west of Bailleul"
both artillery force were active on
both sides of the Avre, on the
zmiens front. but that there were no
infantry combats.
Big Guns Active.
Elsewhere in Flanders and in Pr
cardy the infantry has been inactive.
The big guns, however, are roaring
without cessation, especially north
and south of the Avre, east of Amiens.
Aerial fighting is most active and in
"a big air battle near Douai British
aviators brought down eight of the
enemy without any losses. -Four more
German machines were brought down
at other points.
"a Bad weather prevails on the Amer
lean sectors in France. Northwest Of
EouI an American patrOl mas Deen
smbushed by the Germans On this
sector American heavy artillery has
been in action for the first time. Near
Mont Didier in Picardy the American
gunners continue their harassing fire
against the Germans.
American Force Grows.
The American army is growing rap
Idly in strength. Altho refusing to
divulge the exact number of men who
have gone overseas, Secretary of War
Baker announced that more than $780,
gO0 men are now in France.
= On the Italian front rains have put
a stop to lively artillery and patrol en-
Eagements. The British forces adj
fancing northward from Bagdad in
8desopotamia captured Kerkuk, $50
miles north of Bagdad and eighty
MALES southeast of Moscul, the object
i've of the drive. Six hundred wound
I'd Turks were taken.
Lloyd George to Defend.
- David Lloyd George, the British
prime minister. in the house of COM
mons today will lead the defense of
MIS- government against the attack pre-
cipitated by the letter written by Ma
jor General Maurice. How far the
opposition will go has not been dis
closed but the government has rallied
It's forces for a decisive vote on it's
right to hold office
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