The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-08-23

cred to be the chief p, int of the Ger
man defense positions.
South of Gomiecourt the British
this morning were attacking and
pushing forward all along the line.
A battle has developed which seems
to be one of the greatest of the war.
The town of Meaulte. southeast of
Albert, fell early in the British drive.
The British troops pressing on here
are crossing the Bray-Albert road.
Happy Valley, to the north of Bray.
was taken by Field Marshal Haig,s
troops after hard fighting.
Capture More Guns.
Three German battalions' head
quarters have been taken in the local
ity of Happy Valley. Additional guns
also have fallen into the hands of the
British.
A number of fresh new German di-
visions have been identified They
were rushed up in the hope of saw
ing something from the disaster
which threatens the whole German
army on this front
The latest report from the battle
line says that the British are reaching
out in the direction of Tara hill,
which is a thousand yards beyond
Albert
Advance South of Somnc,
In the fighting south of the River
Somme, the British have extended
their line on a front of more than five
miles, pushing into the German de-
1enses at the greatest depth for about
Two miles Details of the fighting just
north OF the Somme, which continues,
snow that Albert actually was stormed
by the British, who crossed the river
TO the south and struck, anticipatine
the probable German intention to
Withdraw from the pocket which was
rapidly being created here.
Ihe Germans now are fighting des-
perately in the region of Gomiecourt,
South of Gomiecourt the British also
pegan an attack this morning and are
pushlng forward all along the line.
Victory With British.
Reports from all points say that the
battle, which seems to have developed
into one of the greatest of the war
from the standpoint of men and guns
engaged and the length of front, is
going victoriously for the British
troops
Field Marshal Haig's men are kill
ing great numbers of Germans and
are making steady progress every
where in spite of resistance from the
enemy who, if he retreats acknowl-
edges that he is beaten, and if he
stays and fights it out is bound to suf-
1ers the heaviest casualties.
French Near Chauny.
French advance has swept the Ger
mans back to within three miles OF
Chauny, the highly important railway
and highway center between Noyon
and La Fere.
General Mangin's men are reported
to have reached the borders of Coucy
lie Chateau, only three miles from the
old Hindenburg line. They are press
ing eastward along the roads leading
into the town from the Ailette river
and have launched a heavy attack
against Coucy Grove, south of the VII
lage.
Hit Noyon on Three Sides.
Noyon is being attacked from the
northwest, southwest and northeast.
The French are across the Oise and
Manicamp canal and have reached the
edge of Morlincourt, two thousand
yards (slightly more than a mile)
from the Noyon railway station. vs.
The road from Noyon to Laon soon
will be penetrated from another di-
rection.
(This road passes Chauny, a mile
to the southwardO
The boche clinging to the hills north
of the Disc already are under the
Continued on Page Two.l