The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-10-09
Hindenburg Line Lost From
Cambria to st. Quentin.
Forced From Cambrai, Ger
mans in Rearward March.
ALLIES ARE SMASHING AHEAD
General Hafg's Men Drive
Wedge Far Into Lines.
Thousands of Prisoners Taken
in Late Fighting.
tBy the Associated Press.)


(By the Associated Press)
Forced from Cambria, one Of tho
strong pillars of the Hindenburg sys-
tenn, the Germans today are being
driven back toward the French from
tier under the heavy onslaughts of the
Third and Fourth British armies aid
ed by American troops.
Apparently the Germans now have !
lost the Hindenburg line on the front
from Cambria to st. Quentin. Field
Marshal Haig resumed his attack
again this morning and reports that
rapid progress is being made on a
front of more than thirty miles from
northeast of Cambria to east of ST.
Quentin.
AS the German defense system in
the center falls to the British and
Americans, the French and Americans
on the southern wall from Rheims to
the east of the Meuse are smashing
their way northward, threatening the
important functions of the railways
running eastward from the broken St.
uentin-Cambrai line. East OF the
Hindenburg line, in the st. Quentin
Cambria sector, the Germans are re-
ported to have no prepared defenses
until a line Immediately east OF the
sector is reached. East OF this line,
which would run thru Valenciennes
the Germans have the line of the
Meuse. Capturing Cambria and breakl
ing thru the German defenses to tho
south, the British and Americans took
more than 5000 prisoners and large
quantity of guns. Near Fremont the
Americans captured an entire German
artillery position of three batteries.
Before the advancing Anglo-Amer-
lean line lie the railway functions of
La Cateau, Bohain, Guise and Caudry.
If the north and south railways are
cut. German communication between
the Laon massif and the Lille salient
will be lost.
Haig's Men Advance
Field Marshal Haig has driven into
the German lines a gigantic salient
based on Cambria. Even IL it does not
grow larger this salient is great
menace to the Lille and Laon posi-
tions. 1t would seem within the pos
sibilities of the next few days that the
Germans will withdraw from the Laon
massif, as the French and Americans
on the east and the British and Amer
leans on the north rapidly are out
thanking it.
German resistance Is stiffening
along the front east of Rheims but not
sufficient to stop the forward move
ment of Generals Gouraud and Berthe-
lot. The Franco-American positions
in Champagne and the Argonne to
the Meuse have been improved by the
successful French and American
thrust east of the Meuse. The ad-
vance there frees the troops west of
the Mouse. from the menace of Ger
man artillery north of Verdun. In the
operations on these sectors Tuesday
the American troops took 1000 pris-
oners and number of guns. Along
the Arnes the French took 500 pris-
oners.
Hun in Counter Attack.
London, Oct. 9.-German troops to-
day are counter attacking very heay-
lily on the Suippe river front in tho
Champagne and the French have not
been able to make very much progress.
Great Confusion Shows.
With the Anglo-American Armies
. great confusion within the enemy
lines. On the front of the two British
armies engaged, elements from no
fewer than twenty y-nine enemy divi-
| sions have been identified along the
20 mile fighting line. Such concen-
tration of troops seems almost in-
credible, until it is realized that some
, of these divisions have been engaged
| almost continuously since August g.
and are mere shadows of the old orr
ganization.
The ground over which the great
[ battle has been fought is covered with
dead men and horses. Germans are
buried under tons of earth in collapsed
captured had heard of the Austro-
German plea for an armistice and
| their ideas the subject were ex-
| tremely hazy.
From all sources it is learned for o
| certainty no formidable wire barriers
| are ahead of the British and Americans
until the valenciennes line is reached,
| and after that the line of the Meuso
| river. L
The Germans have started burning
| towns far east of the line on which
they are now fighting. Maretz. be-
tween. Clary and Bohain, is in flames.
| The Germans are being given no rest
whatever, for in addition to the bar
| RACES falling ON them as they vainiy
i, try to stem the onrushing British and
Americans, other British guns are
| hammering the rear lines, paying espe-
tcial attention to roads.
AS darkness fell Tuesday night the
sky was dotted with British airp1ane0
lowering over the smoking and fam
ing battlefield, while others were on
their way to add to the general con-
(Coptfnue1 ON Page Twol