The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-04-19
BRITISH HAMMER
FLANDERS THRUST
TO 4 STANDSTILL
Line Has Bent Back, but Omen
sive Is Halted.
werman Efforts to Broaden
Salient Are in Vain.
LINE Is MOST SECURE NOW
Another Enemy Thrust Expect
ed at Amiens Soon.
Germans Are Busy Again win
Propaganda.
zerman Efforts to BrOadel
Salient Are in Vain.
LINE is MOST SECURE NOV

,a,,a. last week against the Brit
~, 1i,,os from Civenchy to Ypres, has
bant hack the British front pady d'
his entire area, the offensive mere
stands checked today and in lfhililiiei'
danger of utter failure so far as the
larger results aimed at are cohceriieu'
E,ie1d Marshal Haig's troops yester
dav had to meet one of the sever
tests vet put upon them n wlths'aiiu
inc a German effort to broaden OUT
.bc salient created before the early
impetus of the German drive In the
Tvs battle field was spent IheS CAME
,t,ru the ordeal with colors flying and
completely stopped the German on
rush x-a,op+ an
eleven mile sector on the SoutheliS
side of the salient German troops
80 hurled in masses on the British
r,ositions in an effort to break thru
- the southwest behind Bethune ana
cornDel the British to fall back from
Ciivenchy and along the front SOUTH
ward toward Vimy ridge and ArrdS.
Tho defensive line held firm despite
reneated desperate assaults when cost
the Germans enormous losses u @
last night the battle had dled 9oMn
to an artillery duel Corresponds o. e'l.,et en.+
a. the front declare the British front
S 1oyv more secure than it has been
for days.
Further Efforts Expected.
Further efforts probably OF an
equally determined nature may
expected from the Germans, VINO are
now in too exposed a posluoh ron M
enfilading gunfire in their haILoM
client 70 rest comfortably where they
are Indeed. they resumed thelr A.
tacks last night in the Mount hetnfl li'l
region on the northerly side OF the
thav are finding the British nrmly
Installed on the dominating heights
These assaults. like the preceding ones
were failures.
On the Somme battle front lne
French have held to their gains or
yesterday in the region of Castel'
where they drove the Germans turther
from the line of the Paris-Amlens
railway in a spirited local attack.
German machine gun nests on the
front of this attack were wiped out
nv the French during the night
Germans Quiet Last Night
,. With the British Army in France,
April 19-Exhausted by the failure
of Yesterdays heavy attacks on the
Givenchy-La Bassee canal 'front.' the
Germans made no further moves ouI.
ing the night. and on the greater part
Of the Flanders battle front quiet pre-
vailed this morning.
The british re-established their line
west of Robecq, on the southWesterly
mart of the Lys battle front held oy
recapturing ground at fleA uu ornlas ,n,15ei
farm yesterday afternoon kemmel
hill on the northerly side of the bat
lie area. was still being heavily bonn
barded this morning in preparation for
fresh assaults by the Germans
Line Most Secure Now.
Ottawa. April 19@-he British bat
tie line is more secure than 1t has been
q
enemy NAV be held in their present
nositions. saws a Reuter- dispatch re
ceived from London today Inc
change of front of the German attack
to the region between Glvenchy ana
east of RobecQ found no weak spot IN
the British resistance at the close or
Yesterdays fighting, the dispatch says
There was only one point in the new
hattie arena where the enemy gained
ANYTHING, this being opposite the hill
of Hinges. where he succeeded in
bridging La Bassee canal but the
only Germans who crossed came as
prisoners.
This new German attack in the
direction of Bethune." the dispatch
continues. is obviously intended to pro-
tect his flanks if he wishes to drive
. further northward. The enemy is
irving to secure La Bassee canal with
the object of safeguarding his troops
around Bailleul and simultaneously
coal field near Bethune.
Seasoned Frcnchmen Come.
The arrival of the French support
is regarded as most important. They
are described as splendidly seasoned
men. The sight of the long blue lines
marching up the roads heartened the
British, giving them fresh sense OF
security, and the news of the French
aggressive stroke south of Amiens still
further heartened the anxious watch
ers at home.
The British withdrawal east of Ypre:
was due to the German advance from
the south along the Lys valley threat
ening communications of the Ypre;
army. Thus the distance that thi:
army would have to retreat if the
enemy looked like breaking thru the
CasseI- X emmel line and heights ha!
been reduced.
The result of yesterdays fightin.
shows the enemy looks less like break
ing thru than it did and altho the re
tirement in the Ypres sectors is re
grettable, yet they are no nearer t,
securing possession of the importan
heights between them and the coast
They failed to get Givenchy and ar
still no nearer HaZebrouck, who's
ca pture is necessary to the enem,
plans Before Mount KENNEL tn
rugged wood hill that has already cos
the enemy so dearly, their masses arr
advancing openly and are bein;
moved down. The enemy here is try
and west of BaIleu1 Altho we aban
doned Meteren and Wytschaete, tn
Continued on Page Two.l