The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-08-20
All Boys up to $1,000 High Class Suits $685.
Disc and the Aisne, according to the
war office statement today.
Makes Line Unsafe.
(By the Associated Press.)

(By the Associated Press.)
Allied forces again are making
progress on important sectors. Further
successful development of the present
operations doubtlessly will forcs the
enemy to readjust his line at least To-
cally, if mot over the entire front from
Ypres to Rheims.
French successes on a 2o-mile front
east and west of the Disc are becoming
a serious menace to the German line
from the Somme to Rheims. West of
Disc, Roye and Lassigny appear to be
doomed. The British are at the gates
of Roye while the French have reach
ed the western outskirts of Lassigny.
The fall OF these towns will imper!l
the enemy position at Noyon, which
also is being threatened increasingly
by the French advance over the high
ground between the Aisne and the
Disc southeast of Noyon.
In Flanders the British have made
additional appreciable gains in the
Lys salient and the German situation
difficult. Driving against the head of
the salient the British have won
ground on a front of nearly six miles
and entered the important town of
Merville. where the Clarence river
enters the Lys.
Salient Formed Around Noyon.
Noyon fast is becoming the central
punt VI d odllCII SuCu dS that Wl1CA
conferred around Montdidier at the be-
ginning of the Picardy offensive. The
stability of the present German line
from the Somme to Rheims depends
greatly upon the holding of the Noyon
salient. whose western outposts are
Roye and Lassigny- British troops are
reported to have reached the failroad
station in the western suburbs of Roye.
The French have driven the wedge
between Roye and Lassigny to Fres-
nieres. cutting the main highway be-
tween the towns. In addition to be-
ing threatened from the west Lassigny
is being approached from the south
by General Humbert's troops who
have finally debouched from rhies-
court wood.
Along the western bank of the Disc
and south of Noyon the French have
court, to the northwest. East Of the
river toward Scissors. General Man
gin has captured more high ground
and has taken Morsain and has
brought his total of prisoners to 1900.
In this operation the French not only
menace the security of Noyon. but re-
lieve the Hressure against Scissors.
From the heights around Morsain
they can bombara the German bat
terry positions north of scissors which
have been harassing the allied occu-
pants of that city.
ran OF NOyon Might BE Far Reaching.
If shall Foch an succeed in
pinehing off Noyon and advancing
forthward he virtually will compel the
Germans to retire from the present
line north of Roye toward Arras and
will hasten, if not force, a German re-
| tre2t to the mort of the Aisne between
| scissors and Rheims. Success around
Noyon might he far reaching but the
terrain is difficult because of 7 the
! woods and hills and German resist
+; ance may continue stubborn. There
| has been only slight activity along the
| Vesle, the French and Americans hav-
ing enlarged their holdings north of
the river by slight advances at several
| points.
/ There has been no change in the
] German tactics between the Ancre
| and the Disc which might have been
expected from the appointment of
General Won Boehn. who conducted
the retreat from the Marine to the SUI
preme command in that area Ber-
lin says that Monday allied thrusts
west of Chaulnes and, north of Roye
| failed while the French were repulsed
in vigorous battle between the Disc
and the Aisne. London reports the
! checking of German efforts between
Herleville and Lihons. west OF