The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-08-24
HAIG DRIVES BACK


and half north OF Bapaume on the |
Bapaume-A rras highway, has been |
reached by the British. British forces !
are operating east OF Bihucourt with.
in two miles and a half of Bapaume. |
on the west.
British forces are reported to have |
reached points east of Henin. on the
Cojeul river, five miles southeast of
Arras. They are in the outskirts of
st. Leger, further south and have cap
tured Ervillers two miles east of Cour-
celles. They are still advancing.
Advance ut Rapid Rate.
(By the Associated Press.) 81
British troops along the extreme
Picardy and Artois are advancing at
comparatively rapid rate. Their at
tack in the Albert region was con-
tinued early this morning.
According to Unofficial reports from
the field the British have reached the
village of Henin on the Cojeul river,
five miles southeast of Arras.
They also have advanced further to
the south and are in the outskirts of
the town of st. Leger.
Advancing Britons appear to be
closing in on Bapaume. the reputed
Keystone of the German positions be-
tween Arras and the Somme.
The Germans have been forced TO
give up towns just to the north of
Eapaume, while the British are re-
ported to be operating just to the west
OF the town.
It is officially reported that in the
fighting since Wednesday morning
when the offensive began in this sec
tor, the British have taken more than
$4,000 prisoners. 1t is stated in un-
official advices that whole batteries
of heavy guns have been takol from
the enemy.
South of the somme and between
the Disc and the Aisne artillery duels
are reported.
Deal Smashing Blows.
Overcoming enemy resistance with
smashing blows the allied forces be-
| tween Arras and scissors are moving
/ steadily forward. The menace to the
| German positions on the battle front
: is increasing hourly as the allies take
| thousands of prisoners and inflict
] heavy losses.
p; On the north, having hurled the
| Germans from more or less important
positions on a fifty mile front, the
British are nearing Bapaume and
Peronne. The fall of Bapaume. # is
said, would be a disaster to the
enemy Field Marshal Haig's men
now are but little more than two
miles away on the northwest, having
| taken Achiet-Le-Grand and Bihucourt
in determined fighting
West of Noyon, the French nave
! forced crossing of the Divette at
Evricourt, three miles from Noyon'
| and they maintain their strong pres
sure from the south and east. Be
tween the Aisne and the Ailette, north
of scissors, General Mangin,s troops
are pressing close to the heights DOM
| mating the Chemin-des Danes from
the west, increasing the menace to the
German positions along the Vesle.
Fighting Over Old Somme Ground.
| The British third and fourth armies
are fighting over the old battlefield
of the Somme and are making marked
progress in fighting which resembles
in intensity the first days of the drive
of July 1915. They have crossed the
Albert-Arras road over most of its
1 length. They have seized the high
| ground northwest and southwest OF
Bapaume, and have surrounded the
important position of Thiepval on
three sides
. North and south of the Somme the
British are closing in on Bray They
hold the heights to the northwest.
South of the river they have taken two
villages east of Bray, which lies on the
north bank In the area of Lihons
the British are east of Herleville
No Change Chaulnes to Roye.
From Cffaulnes to south of Roye
, the battle line remains unchanged
French and British guns are pouring
heavy fire into and behind the
, front here, the stability of which is
seriously shaken by the allied prog
; ress to the north and south. Noyor
: is still in enemy hands, but its use
fulness wanes as the French artillery
bombards it and the armies OF Gen
erals Humbert and Mangin move to.
ward it.
On the front north of Scissors. Cen
eral Mangin apparently is giving mos
attention to sharpening of the salem
which has it's apex Immediately NORTH
of scissors. He has gained further
ground east of Bagneux, and west o.
: Mont, toward the scissors
!. Chauny road. Any advance here add
to the vulnerability of the German lint
!, eastward from Scissors
d Fires Behind Vesfe Line.
Fires are reported burning behint
= the German position north of tn
Vesle, and it>fs believed the enem.
may be preparing to retire. Infantr,