The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-08-12
TRY TO CAIN Time
Germans Are in . Tight Place
South of Somme.
Marshy Roads and Bad Ground
Behind Them.
Cnccu 1rprnuFc TIIn0,afu IA
FRESH RESERVES THROWN IN
Ten New Divisions Reported in
Enemy Line.
Are Now Back to Old 1918 Bat
tie Front.
BY wILLIAM PHILIP SWANS

BY WILLIAM PHILIP SYMAfS.
With the British Armies in France,
Aug. II GAS a. m. )-Von Der Mar
WITT and Won Hutier are trying des-
pcrately to stiffen the resistance of
their armies, whose backs are now
almost tight against the Somme. The
allies are advancing slowly but stead
lily, their guns commanding not only
Roye, Chaulnes, Nesle and Perrone,
but the Somme crossings everywhere.
Immense quantities of German ma
terlal are still west of the river. Pris
oners from divisions just arrived IN
the line declare they were ordered TO
hold at whatever cost.
Some of the bridges have been de-
stroyed by the allied guns, which are
denoIishfnS them as fast as they are
repaired-5 Captured German officers
admit thsre is considerable disorder
behind the lines, the officers them
selves Knowing little of what is trans
pirlng. They were thrown into GER
tain positions and merely told to stay
Try to Gain Time.
Won Iudendorff is obviously trying
to gain time to bring Up more reserves.
possibly TO permit withdrawal of his
heavy artillery and stores to the right
OF the Somme.
The Americans are with the British
before Bray as this is written Soutn
Of the Somme, the Australians are
pushing on slowly, despite steadily IN
creasirr opposition. The Somme
makes a horseshoe bend east OF them
and the sluggish stream is paralleled
by i canal, flowing thru broad, SAT-
marsh 1t is difficult t. cross save
by built-up roads and bridges, which
have been rendered dangerous by al
lied long range artillery and air bombs
Unless Won der Marwitzs army is
able to make a stand the situation
NAV become critical It is not sur
prisins. therefore, that the Germans
are massing beyond Proyart "a mile
and a half south of the Somme, at
Bray).
Cut ChauInes- Roye Railway.
The Canadians have progressed be
vond Chilly 1.-TWO miles southwest OF
~hsulnes). cutting the Chaulnes-Roye
railway at Hallu, while below this at
Damery (three miles northwest OF
Roye) I personally witnessed the TAX
ing of the last portion OF h1gh grouho
before Roye, the EngiiSn ana sd = re ~
cooperating. The hill is sou feet
above sea level. Across its crest runs
tre-amiens-R oye road. three miles
from Royeza thick wood crowns the
hill. To the left of the road. the Ger
man positions are defended by con-
crete "pfckfe boxes" and nests OF ma
chine guns, while trees were fitted up
for observation posts \ mile TO the
northward lies Damery village. Half
way between is Damery wood. Be
tween these positions the allies could
control the entrance or exit of Roye.
The attack began at 9:30 with half
an hours barrage from the British
heavy guns, the Germans replying in
kind . The enemy's counter battery
work yesterday showed he has brought
up reserve artillery. but as an officer
at my side remarked ''it is nothing to
writ home about"
French 75s opened up and light
French patrol advanced toward the
hill. This frightened the boches, WHO
began laying down barrages south Of
the road, apparently thinking they
were about to undergo another cav
,,lry charge such as the British made
in this region the day before.
Tanks Came Up.
-Four tanks came up from behind
US and charged the woods in plain
sight Enemy shells fell to the left
and right. but none of the tanks were
hit. Each tank had to cross the high
way twice. Machine guns on our left
began pouring bullets into the wood.
the Germans rataliating blindly. The
French began advancing up the hill.
crossing the road within a short dis
tance of the wood itself. Here, for
the purpose of steadying his men, q
French officer coolly walked up and
down the road, in plain view against
the chalk white dust. waving them on.
Meanwhile the British we're ap-
preaching Damery wood. The tanks
were now close up and our barra ge
was heightened, falling in the wood it.
self. Then, as tho from a signal, a
vast mass of Germans ran out of the
north end of the wood toward two
copses to the eastward. The gunners
never lfad inner target. the enemy
running in compact punches, carrying
machine guns and machine gun parts.
Ali enemy machine gun fire stopped
and all but the heavily artillery
ceased.
Same kiIu of Fighting Everywhere
1 have gone into such details regard
ing this action because, apart from the
iIr>t getaway the fighting on the
whole front is exactly like this.
From Albert to south of Montdidier