The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-07-29
German Counter Attack Fails
To Stop Advance.
Extension of Wedge Would
Split Crown Princes Army.
EIGHT MILES FROM FISMES
French and American Troops
Sweep North From Ourcq.
Crack Divisions of Bayarian
Guard Couldn't Stop Them.

London, July 29.-The French
won ground on the important
front between scissors and the
Ourcq on the German right flank
today. Launching a new attack
this morning near Grand Rozoy,
they advanced half mile. The
high ground here already is in
French hands. The fighting was
still proceeding at latest reports
received in London late THIS af-
ternOOn.
Washington, July 29.-Striking
northeastward from Fere-En-T -Tarde-
noia. Franco-American forces appar-
emily are driving a sharp wedge in the
direction of Fismes.
Battle front dispatches early today
showed tiny salient. the apex of
which was at Nesle and the bases at
Sergy and a point north of Fere-En-
Tardeuois.
The GermGns, evidently realizing the
danger of this maneuver. made a
fierce counter attack today on the east
side of this wedge-a two mile front
completely repulsed, with heavy
enemy losses. Later Paris dispatch IS
announcing the French and Ameri-
cans are within eight miles of Fismes,
show the allies probably have widened
this wedge and pushed farther north
eastward toward the main Dormans-
Fismes highway. which runs along the
valley of the D'Orillon river.
If this maneuver can be extended
successfully there is a possibility of
SDlittiney los
squarely thru the middle.
Within Eight Miles of Fismes.
Paris. July SO a p. m. .)-Sweeping
northward from the Ourcq, French
and American troops are now within
eight miles of Ftsmes, the important
German concentration center on the
Nesle river.
Desperate fighting is under way in
the new pocket between the Ourcq
and the Vesle, where the Germans
are strongly covering their retreat to
the latter lines.
- In some places the Americans and
French have pushed several kiIomet-
ers beyond the Ourcq.
Try to Check Advance.
With the French Armies in the
Field, July 20 t3:25 p. m.) The Ger
mans are fighting desperately to re-
tard the Franco-American advance
northward from the Ourcq.
Repeated enemy counter attacks on
Sergy last night and early today re-
suited in the village changing hands
-FOUR times, remaining in the possess
sion of the French
South of Sersy, a German guard di-
vision attacked the Americans. who
firmly held their line and inflicted
enormous losses.
OF Fere-En- -Tardenois, are firmly
established.
In the wood east of Champlat
(south of Vile -En-Tardenois the
French captured much material. in
cluding a number of II and $50 miIli-
meter guns.
Both artilleries are engaging in a
terrific artillery duel along the south
ern end of the salient. In addition. the
Germans are dropping huge quantities
of gas shells into the Marine and Ardre
valleys
Push On Beyond Fere.
(By the Associated Press)
With the French army in France.
July % (noon)-The allies pushed on
beyond Fere-En-Tardenois this morn
ing and maintained their positions ev-
cry where in the face of strong Ger
man counter attacks.
The village of Sergy. southeast of
Fere-En-Tardenois, changed hands
four times, finally remaining the pos
session of the allies.
An extremely violent artillery duel
was on this morning north Of the
Ourcq, as far as scissors. In the Sec
tor south of the Ourcq the guns also
were busy.
Huns Counter Attack.
(By the Associated Pressl
With the American Army on the
Aisne-Marne Front. July 29.-Re;n-
forced by two crack divisions of Ba-
varian guards the Teutons today set
tied down to the hardest resistance
they have yet displayed against the
Americans north of the River Ourcu.
Altho heavily hammered the Amer
leans replied in like along the river
and the fighting shifted back and
forth thru Sergy. three miles south.
east of observation-disclosures. Up to mid.
day the Germans had been unable tc
force a recrossing of the Ourcq.
Italians Don't Want to Quit.