The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-05-28
Fresh Troops Used.

American troops winch occupied
positions in the Chemin des Danes
sector earlier in the year. had been re-
placed by British, against whom the
Germans launched a portion of their
attack.
The attack involves the German
crown princes group Of armies, which
were not engaged in the March Often
sive and which a few dayseago con-
sisted of four armies-one commanded
by Won Hutier, between Ailly-sur-
Noye and Noyon; Won Boehm's army,
between Noyon and Craonne; Won
Beulow's. between Craonne and Au-
Derive and Won Einem's, between Au-
Derive and Avocourt.
Gains by the armies of the German
crown prince on the Aisne front have
been balanced in part by the sanguin-
airy repulses of further attempts to
push forward southwest of YpreS.
In prepared second line positions
along the Aisne the Franco-British
forces are offering strong resistance to
the Germans who are pressing on to
cross the river. while in Flanders the
French confidently await increased
enemy attacks.
Purpose Yet Uncertain.
Altho the Germans attacked on the
southern flank on a front of thirty
five miles in great strength it is not
yet clear what is behind the opera
ton. Probably several days will pass
before the situation is defined clearly.
Two possibilities stand out-that
the Germans felt it necessary to wild
en- the elbow about Mont Didier or
that it was feared General Foch might
nor is it unlikely that the attacks on
the extremities of the nearly 200 mile
line are feints, for a stupendous move
ment toward Amiens.
In gaining tho heights north of the
Aisne and the famous Chemin des
Danes, the Germans suffered most
heavily. The region over which they
have advanced thus far is one of the
most battle SCARED in France. If the
crown prince hoped to crush the
French and separate them from the
British at Bery-au-Bac he failed. A
contact between the allied forces has
been maintained thruout the fighting.
How far the Germans advanced on
the extreme ends of the new fighting
front is not defined clearly, but in
the center they reached the region
north OF Pontarcy, on the Aisne, a
four mile advance
Hun Repulsed in Flanders.
Along the six mile front from Locre
to voormezeele, on the Flanders bat
tie field. the French hurled the enemy
back with great losses and still hold
tenaciously to the positions protect
ing the ridge running westward from
! Mont KENNEL.
Near Voormezeele, where the French
have taken over the line from the
British. heavy fighting continues
around Dickebusch lake, where the
Germans penetrated the allied line
Meanwhile, there is very intense
artillery fire from north of Somme
to the Avre in Picardy. The Ger.
mans have made no attacks here ex.
cept for strong raids against the al.
lied lines, especially the American
sector west of Mont Didier.
| THE Americans threw back the
| Germans in a counter attack after
| fighting in which the enemy suffered
severe losses and prisoners were taker
by the Americans.
Renewal of heavy fighting in north.
ern Italy is coincident with a success.
| full Italian thrust against the Austro.
Hungarian positions in the mountain.
of western Trentino. In addition tt
| gaining important positions, the Ital.
| ians captured nearly 900 prisoner.
and much war material. Austrian at.
tacks south of Asiago have been re-
pulsed by the Italians. Elsewhere or
the front from Stelvjo to the Adriatit
there has been little activity.