The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-03-26
GERMANS AIM
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enemy advanced against allied gum
ners who were firing with open
sights.
Last. night British airmen took
heavy toll from the German infantry
in Bapaume.
No official figures are at hand but
from compilation made personally,
the correspondent is convinced that
at least 100 German airplanes have
been brought down in the last five
days.
Desperate Clash at Nesle.
The fighting yesterday continued
with more or less intensity along the
whole line. The Germans pushed
hard N the neighborhood of Fonches,
Chaulnes, Estrees, Dompierre, Meri-
SaplgnieS and ErvillerS. Heavy fight
ing occurred about Grevillers, and a
desperate conflict was waged in the
vicinity of Nesle, which the Germans
now hold. The enemy also attacked
strongly in the direction of Noyon,
but met with strenuous resistance
which appeared to stem the advance.
A further masSing of German troops
was reported at Peronne and north
of Bapaume, both of which the enc
my holds.
Flyers Destroy Bapaume.
Bapaume was turned into an in
ferno by squadrons of British avia-
tors. Their bombs tore to pieces
whatever was left of the place. The
work of the British airmen since the
beginning of the battle has been one
of the brightest pages. Bitter battles
in The air have been fought by scores
of aviators and the service has proved
fully its ability to smother the Ger
man airmen. at a crucial time. The
compilations of German airplane
losses made by the correspondent
have reference to only one section of
the battle front, comprising perhaps
two-thirds of the line affected
Renew Attack Near Somme.
London, March 26.-Exacting the
heaviest toll for every foot of ground,
the British line continues to withdraw
slowly before the pressure of the Ger
man masses, Reuters correspondent
at British headquarters wires.
over large part of the battle zone
the retirement is being made volun-
tafily so as to maintain an unbroken
front. Prisoners say the advance of
the Germans is behind their schedule.
British Guns Halt Drive.
The enemy is fighting desperately
hard against time. On the first day
his reserves were reduced to fifty
two divisions, at the end of the sec
ond day some forty divisions from
the reserves had been put in.
A heavy German attack yesterday
about Ervillers was completely smash
ed by the British artillery fire. q
Yesterday was the supreme day for
the British gunnerS, says the cores
pondent. Attacking from north of
Ervillers to the point of British con-
tact with the French, the Germans
were held up nearly everywhere by
the ceaseless intensity of the British
artillery fire.
Masses of enemy troops which COM
ing forward in waves, again and again
attempted to reach their detectives,
met with the same fate as the Old
Guard at Waterloo. Only near
sapignies did they succeed in bend
ing the British front. 1t was to con-
form the front with this indentation
that the British fell back during the
night Strengthening the line.
London, March 26.-The fighting
died down during the night, the war
office reports. The. British have es-
tablished themselves in new positions
east of Roye and Albert
The Germans this morning began
new attacks against the combined
French and British forces south of the
Somme.
The German losses have been so
great that the enemy has been obliged
to bring up reinforcements from all
parts of the western front. The war
more than seventy German divisions
Gin the neighborhood of $4,000 mem
have been engaged.
The statement follows:
THE fighting died down during the
light. Our troops established them
selves on new positions east of Rove
and Albert.
North of the Somme continuance
of the fighting is expected but it has
not yet developed. Attacks are re-
I 4o1 % -
south of the Somme against our
troops and those of the French in
the neighborhood of Roye and
Chaulnes.
THE enemy's losses continue to be
5evere. He has been obliged to rein
force his battle front from all parts
of the western theater. Over seventy
hostile divisions are known to have
been engaged in the battle
French Leave Noyon.
Paris, March 26.-The battle con-
tinues with the greatest violence and
the Germans are making still greater
efforts along the whole front between
Noyon and Chaulnes, the war office
announces.
Noyon was evacuated by the French
during the night. The left bank of the
| Disc is being held firmly by the
French.
The statement follows:
The battle continues with violence
During last evening and in the night
! the enemy multiplied his attacks on
the whole front >btween Noyon and
Chaulnes. The French artillery well
established in the regiun of Noyon and
supported effectively by our infantry
is retarding the German thrust Ere
quent counter attacks have been made
and heavy losses inflicted on the
enemy.
''Noyon was evacuated during the
night in perfect order. The French.
are holding the left bank of the Disc
firmly"