The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-08-27
Worn Out Divisions Try To
Hold British Back.
No Fresh Units Identified in the
Recent Fighting.
MAY MAKE STAND At PERONNE
Germans Probably Gather
Fresh Forces on That Line.
Open Country Lies Behind
Hindenburg Line East of Arras.

With the British Army in France
Monday. Aug. &c (evening).-Thee x-
tension of the British line north of the
Scarpe has brought the attackers to
of the Hindenburg line, back of which
Is open country, with the terrain and
roads in excellent condition for the
movement of tanks and horses.
This British made steady progress
again today, especially on the new
section Of the front around Bapaume
and astride the Somme- German re-
sistance again was stubborn. How
ever, it is beginning to look as tho the
enemy was lighting rear guard actions
with the hope of holding up the Brit
ish until he can move his material to
the rear.
: No fresh German divisions have
been identified in the recent fighting.
The strategy of the German high
command now is to leave battered di-
visions TO fight rear guard actions and
incidentally to have a large part of
the remnants of these formations
chewed to pieces by the British fire.
Elements of nearly thirty German
divisions. many of which have been
badly hit and crippled. are striving to
hold off the British. There are signs
OF even greater confusion behind the
German lines. Companies of various
regiments have been thrown in almost
any place. The strength of a large
number of these companies has been
whitfield down until they hardly con-
tanned twenty-five men, according to
prisoners. many more of whom have
passed thru the collecting cages.
May Make Stand Mt Peronne.
General Lud 'ndorff perhaps has
some plans to make a stand to the
rear of the present line and is saving
what men he Co n for that purpose. It
would not be surprising If he enemy
intended to put up a stiff defense
somewhere on a line running generally
north and south thru Peronne.
There was hard fighting today
around Bapaume. FaVreuil, Just north
of Bapaume, he been taken and the
streets rLn red with blood of the Ger
mans killed there. The enemy was
prepared to 81 1ch a counter attack
lere but as his troops moved toward
caught under the fire of the British
artillery. The British then stormed
into the town and captured what re-
n aimed of the enenys force-110 men
and five Officers. From Favreuil the
British pushed east and south, further
encircling Bapaume.
er are unconfirmed rui--Crs that
British patrols have reconnoitered into
BaPaume and gone some distance
without seeing any enemy. British
shells have been raining down on Ba-
parme for many hours. Large num-
arrived at the cages because they are
some distance to the rear. This ac-
counts for the fact that mary~cap-
tured Germans, perhaps the number
runs we'll into he thousands, while
well outside tho zone of fire in ac-
cordance with the rules of war, have
not We. reached the base cages.
Drive East on Cambria Road.
The new section of the battle front,
Just south of the Scarpe, offers great
possibilities. The attacking forces
here are driving eastward astride the
Arras-Cambrai road and are now be-
yond Monthy-Le-Preux and Wan
court. These positions virtually are
on the Hindenburg line. The rain dur
ing the night did not interfere with
the British advance. for the operations
now are on hard ground. The rain
pue the German soldiers at a disad-
vantage. particularly those in crater
holes with machine guns, as many of
the holes were turned to puddles.
As son as the rain ceased, scores
o: British planes took the air and
continued their systematic attacks
upon the enemy troops. Tanks again
distinguished themselves by over
whelming difficult points where con-
centration of machine guns delayed
the advancing infantry