The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-07-26
.FOCH'S BIC WISE
is NOW CLOSING
ON The TEUTON
Germans Struggle Desperately
To Stay the Pressure.
Entire Pocket Now Commanded
by Allied Guns.
"A BIG VICTORY MAY RESULT
Allied Capitals Would Not Be
Surprised at Sudden Triumph.
German Lines of COmmunica-
ton Are Almost Gone.
GERMANS MAY STRIKE BACK
Experts Expect Counter Often
sive Around Scissors.
British and French Troops Ad-
vance 2 Miles Toward Fismes,
Allied Capitals Would Not Be
Surprised at Sudden Triumph.
German Lines of Communities
ton Are Almost Gone.
GERMANS MAY STRIKE BACK
Experts Expect Counter Often
sive Around Scissors.
British and French Troops Ad-
vance 2 Miles Toward Fismes.
(By the Associated Press.)

NY the AbBOcldteQ freEsJ
Relentlessly the allies are pressing
back the rmies of the German crown
prince within the pocket between Sois-
sons and Rheims. Allied capitals
would not be surprised if the siuation
changed suddenly and most favorably
for Generp Foch.
Caught as within the wise the Ger
mans are struggling at the height of
their strength to stay the steady pres
sure but apparently to no avail. The
French and Americans are advancing
in a northeaste- v direction from Cha
teau Thierry and north from t-.e
Marine while the British and French
push forward northwestward up the
Ardre toward Fismes and the Vesle.
Allied 'uns Command Whole Pocket.
From east to w st at the height of
the pocket it is now but twenty-one
miles, the enemy having been forced
back something like sixteen miles
since General Foch Launched his
counter offensive. The German lines
of communication are almoSt gone and
the allies are striking with force and
moving rapidly toward the two most
import n bases within the salient,
observation-disclosures and Fismes. AL
lied guns now command every point
in the pocket.
with the CdpLuT0 OIL 1AlC
on the west and advance of more
than a mile on the southwest. Fere-
En-Tardenois is now within three and
one-half miles of the allied line in
the Tournelle wood, where the French
continue irogress: Allied pressaret
r..arkedly between the Ourcq and he
Marine and the latest gain has aver
aged more than mile on the entire
front from the Ou1cd to Dormans me
forests of Fere and Ris are being
cleared of the stubbornly resisting
enemy who is taking advantage OF
every natural obstacle in attempting
to hold back the allies.
Huns Counter Attack Heavily.
Heavily reinforced the Germans are
st liking back with great vigor all
a ong this front as well as Long the
eastern side of the pocket. They have
not been able to hold the allies from
advancing altho their resistance mas
stiffened constantly.
British an French troops are unof-
ficially renorted to have made an ad-
Y nc of two miles tow I'd ,Fismes IN
the region of Vriglly and hive reached
Gouex ard -Iery p macy, which now
The gain here not only narrows the
pocket but also places II great jeop-
ardy the German forces who are
north of the Marine - the forest west
ana north OF Chat1lIon.
Expect Huns Make Counter Stroke.
Military observers on the battlefield
bel.ev at he crown prince before
| he begins a general retreat with the
possibility of losing a large part OF
| his forces now south of the Vesle will
| endeavor to halt the allies by launch
| l. *; a strong attack on a more or less
| vide front in the region OF SCISSORS.
| Here, however General Foch is pro-
tected somewhat by the river Aisne
and he also holds the high ground
southwest of Scissors.
German Losses 100000.
Seventy German divisions are re-
ported to have taken part in the fight
| ing already and the enemy losses now
are estimated at 100000. More than
| $4,000 prisoners have been taken by
the allies as well as 500 guns and
| to. sands of machine guns.
Berlin reports that all allied efforts
| were frustrat ed Wednesday. Its brief
report on Thursdays fighting declares
| there were vigorous sal actions" be-
| tween s sons and Rheims.
| From Scissors to the North sea
| there has been little activity except for
| Sccessful raids by the British near
Albert and elsewhere Only the artil-
| lery has been 1tive on the other sec
tors in France and Italy.
Trouble for Bolsheviki.
The Russian SOVIET government is
facing an acute situation, Premier. Lee
| nine is reported Il have announced
The Czecho-Slovak troops continue &c
| advance along the Volga and have
ptured Simbirsk, 600 miles east OF
! Moscow ana the soviet corn granary
The Czechs now hold Kazan, Sim
| brisk AMI Samara on the fiddle Vol
ga and e reported to be gaining
ground west of the river toward Mos
| COW.