The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-03-29
Says TOdays Report.
Battle There Most Sanguinary
and Still Is in Progress.
HOLDING SOMME SECTOR
InfIict Heavy Losses and Take
German Prisoners.
Fail To Break Thru Strong
British Line Before Arras.
ENEMY CHANGES WAR PLANS
Swings Main Strength to Wings,
North and South.
French Advance From NOyon
Presages Counter Drive?
HUNS VIRTUALLY HAVE LOST!
Paris Sees Entire Failure of
Germany's Great Drive.
Sought To Divide Armies and
Crush Each Separately.
French Advance From NOyOn
PreSages Counter Drive!
HUNS VIRTUALLY HAVE LOST!
Paris Sees Entire Failure of
Germany's Great Drive.
Sought To Divide Armies and
Crush Each Separately.
(For map of today's war
developments, see page 2.)


British Army Headquarters in
France, March 29.-The Germans
were able to penetrate Marcecave. II
miles east of Amiens in the region
south of the Somne, only by means
of heavy massed attacks late yester-
day which gradually forced the Brit
ish back
1t was in this district south of the
Somme, that the invaders continued
to make their greatest efforts. The
British here are battling stubbornly
and Brilliantly against an advance,
which it must be admitted has been
steady.
The conflict in this region has been
most sanguinary and at latest reports
it was continuing along a line repre-
sented roughly by Hamel, Warfusee,
Abancourt and Marcelcave.
This point seemed to mark the eX-
treme advance against the British
The German attack in this region was
made from Gerisy on the Somme. sup
ported by artillery from across the
river.
Hus Try to Broaden Salient.
Yesterdays assaults on the extreme
northern and southern parts of the
battlefield were in continuance of the
Germans scheme to swing their lines
out so to broaden the salient which
they have driven in and thereby pos
sibly enable them to make an attempt
to envelope Amiens.
The fighting east of Arras yester-
day was of a most desperate nature.
especially in the region of Telegraph
Hill southeast of the city. Here the
masses of troops struggled at close
quarters thruout teh day, the British
holding grimly to the defenses which
guard the alfeady war-shocked town.
-Vitasse, south of Telegra ph
Hill, was occupied by the Germans.
They also succeeded in getting hold
on Orange Hill, further north. From
these positions they were continuing
their offensive.
Hold Germans Before Arras.
The resistance of the British yes
terday south of ArraS along the line
of the Arras, Albert road was most
gallant. Here the Germans advanced
time after time for heavy attacks in
the region of Ablainzevelle but in
every instance they were thrown back
At latest reports the line was being
strongly held.
In their attacks out of the Somme
upon Marcelcave the Germans pushed
southwark from Cerisy and then grad
uaIly swung westward until Marcel
cave was occupied.
Enemy Was Hurled Back.
All told, while the intense fighting
of yesterday and last night along the
extended battle front gave the Ger
mans some further gains south of the
Somme and a slight advance east and
southeast of Arras, along the greater
part of the line, the aSSa ulting enemy
troops We're hurled back with heavy
losses.
Paris, March 29.-The general feel
ing here is that for Germany the bat
tie is virtually lost. that for the allies
TIE battle is about to begin. The
operations thus far are accepted as
confirming the theory that Paris was
not the main objective of the German
offensive, but that the plan of the
enemy was to break the connection
between the French and British arm
-es. IN which he has failed. His main
d rec' attack was westward toward
the sea.
Altho thus far no decisive success
las been obtained anywhere, there is
increased confidence here. The inn
preston in semi-official circles is that