The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-09-04
FOch Launches Fresh Attack
= North of Scissors.
American Batteries Make In
fernO of Hun Positions.
VILLAGES BURN LIKE TORCHES
Battle Started With Heavy
BOmbardment Today.
Germans in Vigorous Defense
of LaOn Rail Lines.

American Headquarters in France,
Monday. Sept. 2 Is p. MIA great
fight has been in progress all day
north AMI northeast of Scissors. The
Germans are defending the Pont Ruge
plateau, northeast of scissors, and the
as the line on the right along the
north bank of the Aisre.
The Americans are bombarding the
German positions from the south and
west. The lines of the enemy for
hours have been a seething inferno
of smoke and dust. The villages he
has been holding are burning like vast
torches.
Smoke from the conflagrations is
curling up from the valley and over
the hills which are about six hundred
feet high. Fires are spreading thru
the woods and about them in scarlet
wreaths of flame.
The Germans at 1 o'clock dBenched
the American positions on the Juvigny
plateau with gas but in retaliation an
American barrage silenced their gins
for the moment.
The scene in the bright September
sunshine Is one of extraordinary
splendor. The entire battlefield is
spread out before one. Every shell
burst can be seen ocer a front OF many
miles.
(By the Associated Press.)
With the British Armies in France,
Sept. 3.-While the British were fight
ing their way further forward well in
side the Drocourt-Queant line today
an attack was launched just to the
south where a strong British force is
driving ahead on the northern reaches
OF the Hindenburg line proper. Again
there has been furious fighting. thou
sands of prisoners have been taken
and the enemy has suffered terrific
losses. ~
Carrying their attack to the north
east of Arras the British today cap
tured the village of Hamblain-Les-
Pres. just to the south of the Scarpe in
the direction of Douai.
Southeast of Lagnicourt, the south
ernmost point at which the British
have a hold on the Hindenburg line,
the Germans today fruitlessly threw
in what is believed to be every reserve
available. Most of the reserve troops,
recent fighting and put up a weak re-
sistance.
The second Prussian division, con-
sidered one of the enemy's best, was
rushed up from Cambria but the men
were so worn that they were easily
pushed back.
Hundreds of prisoners were taken
today, but probably not SO many as
yesterday.
Opinion here is that the Germans
have few il any fresh reserves avail
able on this front. It 1t not believed
the line of the Sensee canal can be
strongly defended. If this is taken it
will be possible effectuauy to shell
Cambria.
The situation Immediately south of
the Scarpe, the scene of the most
vigorous British drive, was somewhat
obscure early this evening, but there is
every indication that the Germans are
being swept back so rapidly as to
make reports of the capture of small
villages relatively unimportant.
Since the British began their attack
yesterday morning along the Drocourt-
Queant switch line, the Germans have
not been given an instant in which to
collect themselves. They hesitate for
a moment and the British troops are
on top of. them and pushing beyond.
In the towns thru which the British
advanced the fighting has been most
severe, the Germans firing from be-
hind cover and the British swarming
around them. In many instances the
tanks charged into masses of Germans
who were holding out stubbornly and
crushed them to pieces.