The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-10-04
American Soldiers in France
Nearly Two Millions.
Flu Retards Shipments Some
what Just at Present.
PERSHING'S men IN ADVANCE
Drop 81 Tons of
Bombs on Hun Bases.
Fight With the French and
Take Mont Blanc.

Washington, Oct. 4.-American
troops abroad now number 100000,
members of the house military COM
mittee were Informed today at their
weekly conference at the war depart
ment.
Spanish influenza in camps and
cantonments will retard shipments
somewhat in the immediate future,
they were told, the department havr
ing adopted the policy of not sending
any men overseas who have been ex-
posed or show symptoms of the dis
ease.
Committeeman also quoted war de-
partment officials for the statement
that 234 De Haviland planes had been
produced last week, bringing total
production to 1894.
Liberty motor production now
totals S,216, committeeman said they
were told.
Drives Menace.
New York, Oct. 4.-American and
French operations in the Champagne,
while not as spectacular as the drives
in Picardy and Flanders, are de-
veloping into a far greater menace
against the Germans than any other
movement along the battle front.
Tho strategic objective of the
Champagne offensive is to outflank
the German position in the Argonne
massif and permit General Pershlng
to proceed with his advance down the
Meuse to cut off Won Hindenburg's s
retreat thru Luxembourg. The
Champagne operations are on the
west side of the Argonne. while Cen
eral Pershing's principal forces are
on the east side.
Capture German Positions.
Washington; Oct. 4.-Capture OF
Blanc Mont and other positions In
Champagne was reported today by
General Pershihg in his communique
announcing further gains by the
American forces fighting with the
French.
Between the Moselle and the Ar
gonne, we carried out the usual artil-
1ery and patrol activities, taking a
number of prisoners"
Used the Tanks.
American Headquarters in France,
Oct. 4.-When German forces ad-
wanced Tuesday in an attempt to cap
ture Apremont, On the front north
west of Verdun, American tanks sud-
denly emerged from the town in all
directions. The tanks went lurching
thru the German ranks, spraying bull
lets into them from all sides and
spreading the utmost terror and con-
| sternation.
The American tanks, after smash
ing their way thru the German lines
| wheeled about and repeated the oper-
alton with deadly result. The enemy
losses were extremely heavy. In one
German company nine men were
killed and thirty were wounded out
of seventy. In another company ter
were. killed and forty were wounded
out OF eighty.
| Aviators in Bomb Raids.
| With the American Forces North.
west of Verdun, Oct. 3.-Americar
aviators were busy all day today
carrying out bombing attacks on Con.
flans, Longuyon, Audun, Dommary
BuXieres, Vigneulles, Chambley
| Etain, Arnvil1e and Grandpre. They
| dropped thirty seven and a half ton.
| of bombs.
| Abieleville. Gorze, Haydenvi1le an6
Marcq also were bombed. In twelv,
days flying on this front thirty foul
| successful missions have been under.
| taken by the American aviators.
A successful gas attack was made BY
the Americans on this front at Vii
osnes, on the Meuse about Dannevoux
The American engineers have re
| moved more than 100 buried German
mines from the ground evacuated b,
the enemy.
Americans, with French, have ad
vanced three miles near Rheims