The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-08-02
Exact Extent of TOday's Gains
Not Ascertained.
Germans Are Burning Supplies
on Vesle River.
FLAMES ARE SEEN IN FISHES
Germans in Vile Believed To
Be Surrounded.
Germans Must Now Retire Be
yond VeSIe, Is Belief.

Paris, Aug. 2 "A p. m.)-New
allied progress on the 15-mile
front between Fere-En-Tarde-
nois and Ville-En-Tardenois was
reported today.
How extensive this was could
not be ascertained at the hour
of cabling.
Between the Ardre and the
Vesle rivers, a number of fires
have been observed, evidently
the result of destruction of ma
terial by the Germans at several
places, including Fismes.
On the French Front in
France, Aug. 2.-The important
town of Ville-En-Tardenois on
the easterly side of the Marne
salient has been encircled by the
allied forces.
(By the Associated PressD
Almost a General Retirement.
on the French Front in France,
Aug. 2, (Noon)-The battle on the
front north of the Marne resolved it
self during the night and this morn
ing into almost a general retirement of
the enemy north of the Ourcq, with
the allies pursuing the Germans with
the greatest zeal and success
The town of -Et-Taux was
occupied by the allies, who also seized
the wood lying to the south of this
most important place. The French
and British in this sector took, Con-
tremain and then crossed the Chateau
Thierry- -Soissons road.
The Germans are burni- villages
as they retire and destroying every
thing they come across. The entire
battle field is dotted by conflagrat tions,
some of them of large proportion.
Along the center of the front as well
as on the westerly side the German
resistance seemed greatly diminished.
The allies pressed hru a series of
thickets TO the north of the road lead
ing from Goussancourt to Coulonges
and reached the southern part OF
Xezilly wood.
Further east on the line the allies
nre within 500 yards of Vilers- Agron
and along the line toward Rheims
thec captured Il wood situated 800
yards east of ROmigny. Allied patrols
have attained a position three-nfths
of a mile north of Vile En- -Tardrnois.
and have occupied a height l, 500 ards
north of Romigny.
Americans Meet Slight Resistance.
(By the Associated PressD
With the American Army on the
Aisne-Narne Front, Aug. 2.-The
whole American line moved forward
today while the armies along the
flank from scissors to Rheims
pressed hard against the sides of the
German salient Their gains were
made almost without resistance.
TIa nmered as they have been for
ho Wit h
the night. SC that when the Ameri-
cans. who were supported on their
right and left by the French. started
early this morning they did not en-
counter the usual machine gun fire.
In open order the men plOwed their
way thru the heavy rain-soaked fields
for almost n mile.
The indications are that the Ger
mans will not make stand until they
reach the watershed north of Nesles
forest.
Exact New Line Not Given.
(By the Associated Press)
Crushing in the German lines north
of the Ourcq river. the allies on Thurs
day carried their front to the north
east from their former positions be-
tween Hartennes and Fere- En-Tar-
denois.
The exact location of the new line
is not given in the early dispatches
from the battlefield, but it is said that
the allies have established themselves
on the high ridges between the Ourcq
and the Aisne and dominate the whole
western section of the battle area.
The attack was made over a front
of five miles and penetrated three
miles. 1t was reported Thursday night
that the allies are within five miles of
Bazhoes on the Vesle river which
agrees quite closely with this morn
ing's report of the advance to the
northeast of BeugneuX, the aDproxi-
mate center of the line of attack on
Thursday
Further east and south. the allies
have captured the village of Cierges
Another Attack Farther East
In the center of the line important
progress is shown in reports from the
front GouSsancourt has been cap
tured and the northern edge of Meun-
iere wood has been cleared of Ger
mans This marks an advance of a
mile and three quarters Nothing is
said of the fate of the Germans at St
Gemme. at the tin Of tho salient but