The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-09-27
FRANCO. YANKS PUSHING

Continued from Page one.l
court, Bethincourt, Montfaucon, Cuisy,
Nantillois and Septsarges.
More than six thousand prisoners
have been captured by the Yanks.
Great Work by Yanks
The operations reflect the attack
ing power of the Americans better than
did the st. Mihiel assault, this being
our first frontal attack over an ex-
tended 'front.' The advance was far
ahead of schedule all day yesterday.
Several spots were encountered where
the artillery failed to smash the
enemy's wire entanglements.
The doughboys cut these obstruc-
lions by hand and pushed on without
any noticeable pause.
Airplancs Bomb Line.
Artillery and squadrons of airplanes
bombarded the German rear areas
with deadly effect, smashing new
bridges and setting fire to a number
of ammunition dumps.
Prisoners said an American attack
was expected but that it was looked,
for east of Verdun. AS a result the
Germans had great artillery concen-
trations and reserves massed between
Verdun and the Metz region.
Boche artillery along the east bank
of the Mouse was so completely gassed
it scarcely fired a shot all day. The
enemy resistance was effected mainly
thru the generous use of machine
guns. These were storTped.
A strong artillery fire was kept up
Wednesday night on the entire line
from the Mouse to the Moselle,
thus adding to the boches' uncertainty
as to Just where the attack was to be
made. Fifteen or twenty raids were
made deep into the enemy lines in this
region Then the attack was suddenly
made to the northwest catching the
Germans completely off their balance.
Washington Is Elated.
Washington, Sept. 27.-First de-
tails of the new victory of the Ameri-
can forces reported last night by
General Pershing in his daily COM
munique caused an elation in WASH
ington today that even high officlals
found difficult to restrain. Further
details of the thrust aimed at the
strong points in the German defensive
system in France were awaited with
an intere.t only comparable to that
displayed a few weeks ago when the
forces of General Pershing were
wiping out the st. Mihiel salient.
A German Stronghold.
Capture of the strong positions OF
Montfaucon appeared to observers as
the most striking feature in the re-
port of the American commander. II
is known here that the Germans have
worked hard for four years to make
the Champagne region impregnable
and that the FrancO-AmerlcanS were
able within twelve hours to breal
thru the strongly held positions of the
enemy was regarded as significant
Identification by General Pershine
of the troops operating around
Varennes, Montblainville, Vauquois
and Cheppy as units from Pennsyl
vania, Kansas and Missouri also wa!
regarded as significant, being the frs
time the American commander ha:
seen fit to make public the divisions
taking part in the first stages of {
large operation
Attack Was Brilliant.
With the American Army on thu
Champagne Front, Sept 26-(Thurs
day) nights bombardment o
the German lines preparatory to tn
attack begun this morning was mag
nificent spectacle. 1t was a, cloudles
L night and thousands of guns all fir
ing furiously wreathed the hills in
ceaseless sparkle of flame like myriad
of fireflies. For six hours the roa