The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-09-02
HAVE COME BACK
British Troops Again Prove
Their Superiority.
once Broken Units Now Drive
Huns Before Them.
GERMANS STILL IN RETREAT
NO DoubtAbOut Going Back to
Old Lines.
Only Question Is How Fast
Will They Go.
GERMANS STILL IN RETREAT
BY LOWELL MELLETT.

applied here until Won Hindenburg'
divisions are again all behind the line
whlch bears his name. seeking to re-
cuperate, if given time, from the con-
sequences of his miscarried plans.
There is little doubt that the British
operations around Peronne will end
with the withdrawal of the German
lines. notwithstanding counter attacks
reported today. There is no question
of the direction in which the German
army is moving; there is only a ques
ton of the speed it will make.
Counter attacks about Peronne show
merely that the German commanders
are Directing to the pace set by the
Australians, and are stiffening their
defense in order to save all the mater
ia1 possible, even tho at the expense
of men taken prisoners.
1t is impossible, however, to quarrel
with the German tactics since if they
accepted the Australian pace their re-
treat would be a rout. involving the
loss of prisoners by thousands instead
OF hundreds.
At the other end of the line the
Germans have effected the withdrawal
from Mount KENNEL, with compare
lively small losses.
Close to Hindenburg Line.
The British are now within touch of
tie Hindenburg line at many places,
the farthest point they are from it be-
irg in the region of Peronne, where
TIE old line of defense is about ten
miles distant. Much has been accom-
p,ished since August 5. What Septem-
Der will produce it is impossible to
forecast.
The belief that the Hindenburg line
is not vulnerable is not entertained
anywhere among the men who are
> Tr11TN n
methods of overcoming trenches ana
wires But it rests with Marshal Foch
to saw whether it will be attempted.
our troops now fighting east of
krras compose in many respects, the
finest force Great Britain has placed
in the field since the war began, re-
gardless of thefosses, which have tax
en- place in the four years of hostih-
ties.
America Has Helped.
America is to be thanked for this,
T., mar Her contribution to the line
has enabled a tightening up OF the
british front at all points, and has
pfven it the offensive strength needed.
lust as the Germans consistently re-
fuse to believe the size of the Ameri-
can army in France, they cannot un-
derstand the fact that there are al
ready fresh British fighting units TOT
every opening the front presents II
d
is represented here by 1lghtlns
strength equal to her best efforts at
aDv time. This ironical reflection on
+ha early Germ n boast that WINE II
took twenty-three ships to bring the
Canadians over, row boat W2ulu l@Ne
tn an ba elk -, ..,;,
a. was the message the admlrlnS
Germans sent over during the paltle
in March. as the victor compliments
+he yanuufshed. This same FIFTY
first, reinforced by Scott1sn DIVISIONS
has been rushing the Ger.h 49, ID a.
along the Scarpe. winning their aa-
r,iratfOn anew. Perhaps, tho, they
have not sent over any messages TO
that effect.
London ITroops Held Arras.
If was the London troops who held
Arras when the whole line bent. Ger
man intelligence officers reported TINS
division past recuperation, yet the
same troops. in the battle. showed the
Germans off the grounu they hau helo
since 1914.
It has been the same with almost
every unit There has been a com
plete re-invigoration. The New yea
landers, after a marvellous advance at
the edge of Bapaume, refused to con-
slider the proposition that they be re-
lieved Before this city actually was
taken the Australians started toward
Peronne, with the simple object OF
t1king that city on the banks of the
Somme The plan suddenly altered
and they were ordered to swing
around to the left. The result of a
frank discussion partly subordinates
these facts, until it is realized that the
movement was a giant enlightenment
which captured the city.
Have Learned Caution.
This spirit prevails turnout the
army. If the men are ordered to
storm the Hindenburg line. they
probably will seem quite capable of
doing it, tho accompanying this spirit
there is the caution and knowledge
born of experience. Their practice,
from platoons to whole armies, is to
go over nothing that they can go
around.
The Americans today advanced on
the Germans in the north. The Ger
mans felt their presence in Belgium
when they slipped across the mud
flats in Voormezele. capturing the
town.
The task was comparatively easy
for our troops, altho this is the first
fighting they have seen on this end of
the line.
The resistance of the Germans was
similar to that shown around Mont
KENNEL, their fighting being little
more than a rear guard action, with
=
There was some fighting in the
ruins which is all that now is left of
the Voofmezele of the past. However,
the Americans crossed 1000 yards so
quickly in the early dawn that the
outposts were surprised and some were
taken prisoner. The German defenses
were less troublesome than the mud
dy ground. The old trenches were
filled with rank grass of three years
growth Voormezelee had been in
German hands since March, earlier.
advances stopping just short Of the
town. but the town had been sHelled
to bits long ago.
~ Miles in Four Days
Starting August 26, the Australians
have advanced<4, 900 yards on a three
mile front. They had taken DOM
pierre and Frise by the night of the
2Sth. They moved forward all night