The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-07-26
Last Physical Obstacle Has
Now Been SurmOunted.
Only the Kaiser's Men in the
Open Bar the Way.
FERE FOREST IS NOW TURNED
Has Been Big Obstacle to
FrancO-American Drive.
Fall of Fere En- Tarden0iS Be.
lieyed Matter of Hours.

Franco-American troops have con-
quered the last great physical obsta-
Gle before Fere- -En-Tardenois and the
capture of that all-important German
concentration center is believed to be
matter only of hours.
Clean Sweep Toward City.
With the turning of the great Fere
forest the allies now have practically
a clean sweep from the south and are
enabled to flank that city by ad-
vancing up the valley of the Ourcq
from the southeast.
The capture of Oulchy-Le- Chateau
confirmed today by the French war
Tardenois from the west. The allies
may thus press in upon the city from
three sides over a front of more than
fifteen miles. The latest reports
showed them less than four miles from
the city, to the south and about the
same distance to the west.
Will Endanger Whole Salient
The fall of Fere- -En-Tardeneis will
endanger the German position within
the Sofssons-Rheims salient more than
any other single operation that ap-
pears possible of realization by the
allies within the next day or two.
Forest 1t Outflanked.
Paris, July &c a y. m. m.)-Franco-
American troops have completely
turned Fere forest and are within six
Kilometres of Fere- e-En-Tardenois.
On both sides of the road from
Mezy northward to Fere-En-Tarde-
! nois. the Americans repul3ed counter
attacks and pressed northward, cap
turing Franquet farm.
Fere forest extends from the Marine,
east of Chateau Thierry, lnorthward %
the vicinity of Fere-En-Tardenois
Advance in Champagne, Too.
he fHa
Field, July 26 (4:40 p. m.)-The al
4 lies today were successfully conduct
/ ing offensive operations along the
whole original German drive front
| from scissors to Main De Massiges.
In addition to closing in on Fere-
En-Tardenois, they are steadily gain
! ing ground in the Champagne -and
have recovered most of the outpost
positions lost in the initial German
push Main De Massiges is reported
to have been recaptured.
| Slight Advances Everywhere
London. July 26.-On all sides the
! German salient, the allies are reported
/ today to be continuing to make pro-
gress, except on the heights behind
| scissors. The German resistance to
the French pressure has been very de-
termined in this latter sector. The
advances reported elsewhere are for
the most part slight.
On the other side of the salient just
to the west of Rheims, the allies lost
the town of Merry and Hill 204 to q
German counter attack but retained
Vrigny and the greater part of the
line thereabouts. looking toward Fis-
mes. The allies in this sector hold
Marfaux, Bouilly. st. Euphraise and
Courton wood.
Between the Ourcq and Chateau
| Thierry, the F'ranco-American line
now shows an advance beyond the line
of a week ago of from six to eight
miles.
Americans Make Good Progress.
Washington, July 26.--Satisfactory
progress is being made by the Ameri-
can troops assisting the French and
British in pushing in the German
lines on the Soissons-Rheims salient,
members of the house military com.
mite were told today by Secretary
Baker and General March, chief Of
staff.
The transportation facilities of the
expeditionary army are fully meeting
the strain placed upon them in keep
ing the moving troops supplied and In
nlunition. the representatives were
bringing up heavy guns and am
fold