The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-04-02
GERMANS HAVE
/ TRIPLE aim IN
/ AMIENS SMASH
Would Cut r. r., Separate Ar
mics and Capture City.
British Army Now Fighting
West of MOreuil.
CLAIM $4,000 PRISONERS
Berlin Reports Allies Counter
Attack Breaks Down.
Battle in Amiens- Moreuil Sec
tor Most Desperate.
British Army Now Fighting
West of MOreuiI.
SLAIM $4,000 PRISONERS

(By the United Pressl
The triple German objective of cap
turing Amiens. cutting the Calais
Paris railway south of that city and
driving a wedge between the British
and French armies in that region is
Resulting in the most sanguinary fight
fng at the present stage of the enemy
Extensive.
The combat is centering around
Noreuil. Demuin and Hangard, be-
tween the Avre and Luce rivers and
midway between Mont D.dier and
Amiens.
: While the allies have not officially
admitted the capture of Moreuil and
Demuin by the Germans, they are
proceeding west of those two cities
enemy Saturday but lost them again
Sunday afternoon, according to
Emitted Press dispatch from he front
Arc Four Miles West of Morcuil.
Z The night statement of the British
Bar office said ground had been
gained in this neighborhood by counter
attacks. including a wood between
Moreuil and Hangard. The latter is a
mile due west of Demuin and about
four miles north of Moreuil.
L The Berlin official report declared
Allied. attacks between the Luce and
Avre had broken down and claimed
the number of allied prisoners had
been increased to $1,000.
Germans Are Checked.
(By the Associated Pres-D
{ Infantry operations on a large
Scale on the Picardy battlefield have
died down while both sides prepare
fer the next move in the great con-
fict Vicious local fighting has oc-
eurr 81 at Albert and Mont Didier, but
the Germans have been checked in all
attempts to advance toward Amiens,
while the British troops have
made some small gains between the
Sou1me and Demuin- In the days of
desperate and sanguinary fighting
sirce they launched their attacks on
she li:4c before Cambria. st. Quentin
and La Fere, the German command
4ppA emily have learned that massed
Infantry attacks without great artil-
Iery preparation are fruitless and
most costly.
Germans Await Big Guns.
( Seventy-seven German divisions are
On the battle line waiting for the
bis guns before attempting another
Gigantic effort t reach Amiens. North
@ the Somme there are forty divi-
Sions, while thirty-seven are on the
Hne between the Somme and Chauny.
And il is known that the German
guns have not all been moved for
ward.
: Meanwhile the allied armies under
General Foch are making ready not
emil to counter another German blow
Which the enemy must make or con-
cede Iefeat. but propab1y also for a
&ountc- offensive. American troops
not unlikely. will participate in the
approaching renewal of heavy fight
inS along most of the line, as more
than 100000 are moving toward the
battle lines Some unseasoned Ameri-
can units will be placed side by side
Nth hardened British and French
Veterans. according to a decision an
nounced in London.
Z The Germans are reported to be
plassins troops before Albert, where
their attacks were beaten back by the
British Monday.
The British command looks for
heavy German efforts north of the
Somme, where; it is believed, the
enemy has most of his fighting force,
but where there has been no marked
activity since the repulse at Arras
Thursday.
Activity on Z. s. Front.
Except fo- the activity at Albert. the
fighting has been confined to the line
Between the Somme and Mont Didier.
The allied troops have reclaimed some
ground between the Somme and
Demuin. while between Hangard and
Eforeuil heavy German attacks We're
beaten off with loss. German attemps
against Grivesnes, northwest of Mont
Didier, were repulsed sanguinarily by
the French.
2 Artillery exchanges continue on the
rest of the front in France, including
the American sector near Toul, and
on the Italian front. The Austro-Ger-
man artillery fire against the Italian
Ines is moderate. and there are yet
no indications that the enemv is ready
TO launch his attack with the many
thousands of troops reported to have
been brought from, the eastern theater
Revolt Against Turks
p In the three Caucasus districts
ceded to Turkey by Russia in the
peace treaty with the central powers,
heavy fighting has broken out The
Armenian and Georgian inhabitants of
this territory are defending them
selves against the Turks, who are at
tempting military occupation.