The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-07-17
OFFENSIVE FAILS
Check OfJHunS in Early Fight.
ing Upsets All Plans.
Unable To Draw French Re.
serves From Vital Points.
BY i. v. T. MASON.

Won Hindenburg was compelled to
abandon his main offensive yesterday
and to modify it into local ASA ults,
having failed to gain an initial i'm
petus.
The history of the four previous
German offensives this year has
shown that Won Hindenburg can pur-
sue his new tactics of ruthless
slaughter only IL his troops are able
to move. forward with an overwhelm-
their drive. The check administered
to the Germans, especially by the
Americans, has had a decisive influ-
ence on the fighting. Won linden
burg's time table has been disorgan-
lied and he must pause to re-arrange
his battle plans. This has not pre-
viously occurred to the Germans after
only "a hours fighting The effect
upon the morale of Won Hindenburg' s
army will be all the more pronounced
for that reason. To compel his men
to attempt to so forward in further
useless sacrifices apparently has ap-
palled even Won Hindenburg himself.
Therefore the battle is limited to de-
tailed, Operations, while the kaiser is
trying to- figure out how so many
Americans got into SO many first line
positions along the western front all
at once.
Most Serious Check of Year.
mott serious check of the year and has
failed to draw General Foch's reserves
away from the defenses of Paris and
the channel ports to the eastern side
of the Aisne-Marne wedge. Some
slight German gains have been regis
tered but the inability of Won linden
burg to advance at crucial points has
beea particularly noticeable in three
sectors held by American troops. North
of Chateau Thierry, south OF the
Marine, opposite the Jaulgonne bend
and east OF Rheims, are the principal
sectors where decisive checks have
been administered to Won Hindenburg.
Americans Saved the Situation.
To the east of the American area
south of the Marine, the Germans
have extended their front slightly, but
the effect of this purely local success
has been greatly lessened by the
American victory in the Jaulgonne
bend. 1t is here that the principal
railway from. the south runs into the
allied front. By driving the Germans
! back in this area, the Americans have
saved the line of communication or
which they and the French are nov
depending for their munitions. This
accomplishment.
Won Hindenburg is now apparently
concentrating his forces at the south
east corner of the Aisne-Marne
wedge. His purpose is to try to move
| eastward along the Marine to Epernay
1t is a reckless adventure without high
! strategic value. The affair of the
fifth offensive, in fact, increasingly
seems to have been planned in des
| peration.
| Wine as an Objective.
Starting the first offensive toward
| the west, the German beast has beer
| so successfully headed off that he ha:
! i
| blindly trying to move eastward. In
stead of Paris, the objective is now
| Epernay. Epernay, where the cham
payne comes from. There are thou
! sands of bottles in the cellars o.
| Epernay. A drunken orgy as the OBJ
| jective of a main offensive. Tha
seems to be the final ideal for which
! the German people are being slaugh
| tered at Won Hindenburg's blood,
| command.