The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-07-15
GERMANS CROSS

CONTINUED from Page OneJ
German main effort to be loosed
against the line from the Marine to
the Aisne north of Chateau Thierry;
in the Picardy sector, towards Able
VILE or further north in the Lys sec
tor, against the Channel ports.
Chose Quiet Sector.
Along this line the allies have been
daily Improving their lines and pre-
pairing for the new drive. But the
Germans chose a sector which, except
flor a surprise attack around Rheims,
late in June, has been quiet since the
offensive launched on the Aisne May
27 came to a standstin
East of Rheims and north of Chal-
ons there has been but little fighting
of significance for a long time. This
line of which Rheims may be con-
sidered the keystone, was chosen for
the reason that information might
have been received by the Germans
that it was less strongly held than
sectors along the front nearer Paris
Thus it might be reasonable to ex-
pect that a greater territory could be
overrun there at smaller expense
of men and materials than on the lines
where the allies are known to be very
strong.
The Germans hold the north bank
of the Marine for a distance of about
twenty miles east of Chateau Thierry.
Their line leaves the Marine near The
village of Dormans and runs off the
northeast to Rheims, where it turns
abruptly to the southeast and runs
down the valley of tie VeSle river to
the village of La Pompelle. where 1t
turns eastward and runs in relative
ly straight line to Verdun. Maisson de
Champagne. the eastern limit of the
present battle is thirty-one miles west
of Verdun.
Important Supply Centers.
of Rheims is the railroad which sup
plies the French forces at Verdun md
the Americans at st. Mihiel with food
supplies. In this sector, too, are the
important cities of Chalons, Epernay
and Bar LIE Due, all three of which are
important supply centers for the al
lied forces. The railroad was inter-
rupted to some extent by the German
advance to the Marine between Rheims
and Chateau Thierry, but 1t is still a
very important artery for the allied
forces.
The only other fighting of moment
reported from the front has occurred
on the Villers- Bretonneux sector, in
front of Amiens, where the British
have improved their positions.
Involve Two United States Forces.
At least two distinct American
forces are thus involved in the new
drlve-those in the region of Chateau
Thierry and those near Butte Du Mes
nil, four miles west of Main De Mas
siges.
The Germans attacked this morning
from Chateau Thierry to Main De
Massiges. after the most violent artiI-
lery preparation" the communioue
said.
The French are sustaining their
position energetically before the
enemy assault"
Cross Marine and Take Towns.
London, July 15.-The Germans
nave crossed the Marine at several
points in t r new drive, it was
learned authoritatively here this after
noon.
French positions have been pene-
trated at some points to the depth Of
5000 yards (nearly three miles).
Some villages have been captured.
100000 Americans There
Americans are engaged in the battle
along the Marine from some distance.
Their positions extend northwest of
Chateau Thierry to the village of
Torcy. on the C1ignon river, and east
ward along the Marine to Jaulgonne,
where they have been engaged in 10
cal fighting recently. General Lig-
gett has about 100000 men, the first
army corps. in this sector.
No Yankees at Rheims.
So far as known no American
troops are in the neighborhood of
Rheims. which seems to be the center
of the tremendous storm loosed by the
enemy at dawn today There have
been italian forces on the line to the
southwest of Rheims, under attack IN
present drive.