The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-07-17
is LOCAL
Offensive No Longer a General
Attack
Is Opinion of Observers in AL
lied Countries.
TRY TO TURN RHEIMS SALIENT
Still Attack Southwest and
East of City.
French Say They Have Lost
No Artillery.
TRY TO TURN RHEIMS SALIENT

tBy the Associated Press,
The German offensive is in its third
day and. according to the views of
entente observers. it has no longer the
character of a general attack. 1t al
ready, they declare. has worked itself
into a series Of comparatively local
operations.
The offensive now appears largely
to take on the aspect of a turning
movement against the Rheims salient.
Reports from the battlefield show that
the Germans during the night made
progress in two sectors of the front.
South of the Marine they attacked the
positions on the heights commanding
the river crossings, taken by the
French in their counter offensive on
Tuesday. The French reached the
Bourdonnerie and Clos Milon farms
north of st. Agnan and Lachapelle-
Monthodon, but there they encounter
ed fresh enemy troops who appear to
have again forced them back The
battle is continuing on the slopes and
in the woods south OF the heights.
Germans Make Small Progress.
Further east, the Germans seem to
have made little or no progress in
their attempt to debouch from the
Bouquigny wood and thru the village
CT Nesles.
Near the Marine the Germans ap-
parently took some ground southwest
of venteuil near Monvoisin, but a
counter attack by the French elected
them.
Greatest Threat Near Rheims.
North of the Marine the turning
movement against Rheims becomes
| quite apparent. On Tuesday the Ger
mans had been held up at Chatillor
and Rodemat wood. Since then they
| have advanced along the line further
to the northeast toward Rheims To-
days report tells of violent fighting
in the Courton wood but does not give
the result.
The precise point of the combat I.
not known, but conceding that thu
enemy has reached the middle of thi.
| wood, he has advanced about foul
and one-half miles from Fere Ell
Tardenois, approximately the location
OF the line Sunday. Here and further
west in Rodemat wood the German.
are making the steadiest and mos
threatening gains, pushing southeas
toward Epernay, south of Rheims
Nearer Rheims the Germans have
been repuised at Vrigny and no fight
ing is reported in the district inmedi
ately surrounding Rheims.
East OF Rheims the Germans have
attacked. French positions on the
Esouthside of the vesle, to which the
French retired Tuesday. The French
official statement reports the attack
i failed.
1 No Fighting Farther East.
| From this point eastward there Il
mo report of fighting. The French Of.
fictal statement says their lines have
been maintained intact thruout the
region east of Rheims. Unofficial re.
ports from the battle area state the
German losses since Monday morning
are estimated at 100000. Reports de
clare that the situation Is viewed a.
being satisfactory by the allied com
manders. The French, according Il
unofficial reports have lost no cannon
Raids have been carried out by thu
British in the Amiens region and e
the north, at Huiiuch. The German
artillery Is said to be active notabl!
around the Arras-Lens salient.