The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-08-12

Field Aug Il t2:4O p m. .)--French
troops. closing in upon the important
base of Lassigny, have advanced to
within two miles of that place. They
have captured Curry Ness than tw''
miles TO the southwest) and have ad-
vanced south of" Loges wood (two
miles northwesD.
There is little change in the situa-
ton elsewhere. Contact between al
lied and German forces continues
west of Roye-
Yanks III Bray.
(Iiy the Associated PrcssD
London, Aug. II (433 p. m.)-
American troops are in the suburbs Of
Bray today, fighting a continuous bat
- tor the outskirts of the little French
city.
only slight changes in the line as a
whole are reported in dispatches
reaching London this afternoon, but
> ding dong battle is raging all up and
down the northern section of the pres
ent BATTLE fine.
Nearly 10000 Prisoners.
Paris. Aug. 12.--Nearly 10000 pris-
oners and TOO guns have been taken
hy tine allies in Picardy. according to
-eEahle information here.
Extremely bitter resistance is being
encountered from the Germans along
the line of ChaulneS-R -ROye-Noyol The
FHGlfiE lS hflISlu5 up SlEOHB TeIilIpTCc-
ments. while the allies are preparing
for a further advance.
i-cnch Push on at South.
London. Aug. 12.-Apparently the
attack ON the southern part of the
front was being continued by the
trench this morning. Main interest
coH;erod- in the sector around the
Lusslguy Massif. II is difficult to say
whether the French are on the crest
l-rf htN II sGIOSR if The
whole position on the southern line
depends upon possession of it.
In the region between the Roye road
:sud the Somme the position has been
:i.aliiIizcd. The Germans have massed
heavy artillery on this front and are
heavily counter attacking. The towns
OF Albert and Chaulnes seemed to-
day to Ire held by the enemy, and
EOye has not fallen.
Germans Fight Hard.
tSy the Associated PressD
Mighty efforts are being made by
Ike German high command to check
the allies advance thru Picardy to-
ward Peronne, Roye and Noyon. On
tn. nort hern end OF the battle line, the
I.ritish have not been able to progress
rapidly during the past night, altho
London reports unofficlaliy that the
village of Bray has been entered.
In the center strong German coun-
ter attacks seem to have held up the
advance against vital points along the
line
Roye Reported Taken.
There is ar unconfirmed report
however. that Roye has been aban-
doned by the enemy The battle is
still confined within the limits fixed
when the French extended the fight
ing area to Disc. 1t has been expect
cd that the combat might spread along
~ Il fNVTk r Fe
development has not yet been re-
ported.
VIII New Line Hold
Interest in the Picardy battle now
centers upon the German efforts tC
stabilize the front along the line from
Albert south to Chaulnes and to check
the French efforts to envefop the
enemy's positions at Lassigny. There
has been an enemy effort which has
met with a measure of success. tC
hold the northern flank of the line
firmly while the allies have pushed
eastward in the direction of Peronnt
and Ham On the southern end ot
the front the Germans have been un-
able so far to do more than slow dowr
the progress of the French.
French Make Important Gain.
In this sector an important advanc,
Is reported in the fact that the Frencl
have reached Antoval on the crest o
the hills west of Ribecourt- In tn
German drive early in June the fal
of Antoval proved fatal to Frencl
hopes to hold the valley of the Disc. a
we'll as the forest of Carlepont, ol
the east bank If Antova1 is firml,
held by the French the German line
long the Oise, it seems, are in danger
nd if the French continue to gain, tn
uemy's retirement from territory he'll
long the eastern bank of the rive
ny be forced.
Probably Only Temporary Stand.
Reports would appear to indicat
hat the line where the present heav
lighting is going on is not the on
upon which the Germans have decide
to stand definitely on the defensive
On the contrary. the present fight ap
pears to have reached the stage pre-