The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-06-05
Allies Hope Enemy Is Firmly
Blocked Everywhere.
Berlin for First Time Since May
% Makes No Claims.
MAY SHIFT BIG DRIVE AGAIN
Germans Are Expected to Re-
new Drive Towards Channel.
Americans Now Operating on
Five Fronts in France.

Paris, June 5.-Three German
armies on three roads to Paris-down
the valleys of the Aisne. Ourcq and
Marne-are now blocked, temporarily
at least. The allies are holding solid
positions along these roads and there
is every reason to believe that the
blockade may be permanent.
Allied defensive measures have
broken the force of the German often
sive in the salient south of the Ailette
and the enemy is now making only
strong local attacks. Altho recording
successful engagements" in its lat
est reports Berlin for the first time
since May 81, does not claim any new
advances.
to overcome the barrier of the Retz
forest east of Villers-Cotterets, by
frontal attacks, the Germans attempt
ed to outflank the position by assaults
north and south of it. After slight
gains the French stopped them on botn
TANKS, American troops taking part IN
the fighting around Chateau Thierry.
where the western wing of the battle
front joins the Marine.
Strong German Attacks Fall.
Between the Disc and the Marine the
fighting continues heavier than else
where on the new salient. North OF
Moulin Sous-Touvek, northwest OF
Scissors the French have improved
their positions gaining some holiy
contested terrain from the Germans.
Enemy attacks against the Retz forest
altho strong are being Localized.
Near Longport, the Germans were
able to penetrate the forest Dut
French counter attacks threw them
out again. If they follow the tactics
employed in the Picardy and Flanders
battles, the Germans probably Will
make very strong efforts to improve
locally important positions before
they finally give up their efforts to
advance.
Rheims Holds Out.
The enemy artillery fire is very
heavy from north of the Aisne to the
Ourcq on the western wing ana
around Rheims on the east which
still holds out.
In addition to the present battle.
American troops are actively engaged
on four sectors and preparing to enter
the front line on a fifth-Flanders,
northwest of Toul, east of Luneville,
north of ST. Mihiel. along the Mouse
and west of Montdidier, in Picardy,
General Pershing's men had given
good account of themselves. before the
entrance of American units into the
fighting east and west of Chateau
fhiery.
IL
With the hating of the offensive on
the new salient military observers ex-
pect the Germans will make another
attempt to reach the channel ports
through Amiens and crush the Anglo
French forces before the full strength
of the American effort can be brought
into play. The supreme war council
has expressed confidence in the situ-
alton and the ability of General Foch
to combat the enemys plans.
Premier Clemenceau has told the
French chamber of deputies that the
future depends on American help.
Fighting operations on the west
front elsewhere than south of the
Ailette are at a minimum. There has
been active artillery firing on the Bel
gian sectors and parts of the British
front where the Germans have been
repulsed in raids north of KENNEL in
Flanders and between Albert and
Arras in Picardy.