The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-07-29
Take a Number OF
Important Villages.
German Resistance Stiffened In
Yesterdays Fighting.
THE HUNS HOLD At S0ISS0NS
Germans Counter Attacked
Yanks This Morning.
400 Prisoners Taken North OF
Marne Yesterday.


London, July % (1:4O p. m.)-The
French and Americans have advanced
three miles on a t"enty mile front
since Sunday noon, it was learned
from an authoritative source this
afternoon.
The allies now hold all of the
Rheims -Dormans highway and the
whole north bank of the Ourcq.
The German retreat continues from
the lower end of the pocket but the
enemy is resisting desperately in the
Ardre valley southwest of Rheims and
at Buzancy, south of scissors. The
Americans engaged in heavy fight
ing in the latter region.
(By the Associated Press.)
With the American Army on the
Aisne Marine Front. July 29 (s:30
a. m. )-French and American troops
were slashing vigorously at the stiff
fleming German rear early today with
some prospects that before night the
advancing line would be close to the
River Ardre which is now only a few
kilometers away.
From Rheims the line now extends
almost straight southwest to OlizyEt>
Violaine The forest of Ris is now
behind the allies and they are holding
Champ Voisy to the northeast of the
forest. In this region the Germans
have the higher ground and have
some advantage in the artillery duel
Americans Take Villages.
Washington, July 29.-The crossing
! of the Ourcq by the American forces
in their continued pursuit of the enc
my north of the Marine was reported
| in General Pershing's communique for
yesterday, received today at the war
| department.
| Capture by the Americans of the
towns of Servings -Et-Nesles. Sergy and
Roncheres beyond the Ourcq, also was
announced.
Resistance Stiffencd Yesterday.
s-s'--saAztBy- the Associated Press.I
| With the French Army in FrapSre.
July 29.-The forward pressure of the
| allies was continued uninterruptedly
thruout Sunday. On Saturday the
| progress o. the allied forces was ex-
tremely rapid, with slight opposition
from the retreating enemy, but yes
terday the Germans everywhere DEM
| onstrated that their power of de-
| termined resistance was still very
| strong.
In the streets of Fere-e Tardenois
there was very severe hand to hand
fighting. but the allies eventually OBJ
tained the upper hand.
| Fight for ViIIe-En-Tardcnois.
Late last right fighting was still in
progress for the mastery of Ville-en-
Tardenois, the Germans strong point
on the southeasterly side of the salient,
but the allies were gradually gaining
the ascen( aEcy here. They are estab-
lished in the southern portion of the
town. having beaten all efforts of the
Germans t dislodge them.
| After conquering Fere- -En-Tarde-
nois the allies next had before them
the difficult task of crossing the River
Ourcq in the face of the strongest
German fire. Happily the river is
| running very low just now, for not
! bridge was left intact.
The allies secured foothold on the
northern bank, where they present a
serious menace to the enemy. Fur
ther to the south, both infantry and
| artillery were heavily engaged.
In the region north of Ris forest
there were furious combats which
lasted several hours and resulted in
the allies capturing Camp Voisy.
Then Roncheres was reached by ad-
vanced guards. Further to the east,
cavalry patrols came into action in
the Meuniere wood and at Vfllers-
| Agron-Aiguisey.
Enemy Used Gas Shells.
All along this part of the line. the
enemy threw great quantities of gas
shells. the fumes of which remained
for a long time among the woods
Near Romigny and Bligny the allies
got over the Dormans-Rheims main
road
X
precautions here because of the enor-
nous number of enemy machine guns
under cover of The small woods in this
region. On the eastern flank how
ever, the allies now have got beyond
the wooded country and on to the
plateau.
Can't Stop French Advance.
London, July 29.-The German re-
treat is continuing along the whole
line, the allies closely in pursuit, ac-
cording to news from the fighting area
IN the Soissons- Rheims salient re-
ceived up to noon.
The Germans have succeeded in
checking to certain extent, but not
in stopping the French advance
The French are on the north bank
OF the Ourcq and to the east they have
secured the whole road between
Rheims and Dormans. The Germans
; are stubornly resisting, and are burn
} ing villages.
Huns Hold at Soissons
? Heavy fighting t. still in progress to
: the south of Soissons. in the neigh-
borhod of Buzaney. So far the French
have made no progress there villages
between Scissors and Bazoches about
fourteen miles to the east. however.
are on fire. leading to the belief that
: the Germans may intend to further re-
treat.
Encmr Counter Attacks.
With the American Armies n
France. July - fnoon)..-The first
J counter-attack against the americans
: in any considerable force since the
/, latest retirement began. was made to-
: day between Nesle and Sergy. frorf