The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-07-27
ATTACK IS
SHIFTED TO
River line
French Forces Push North
From Bank of the Marne.
Americans Busy Cleaning Up
Boches in Fere Woods.
ENEMY RETREAT is VERY SLOW
German Forces Fight Stubborn
ly for Every Inch.
Most of Front Was Quiet All
Thru Last Night.
ALLIED PRESSURE CONTINUES
French Take Some Ground
Well to East of Rheims.
Americans Find Emplacements
for Great Super Cannon.
German Forces Fight Stubborn
ly for Every Inch.
Most of Front Was Quiet All
Thru Last Night.
ALLIED PRESSURE CONTINUES
French Take Some Ground
Well to East of Rheims.
Americans Find Emplacement'
for Great Super Cannon.
Ry the Associated Press.)

Shifting their blows to the southern
arc Of the sector between Scissors and
Rheims, the French have struck the
German line at Port-a-Binson, on the
north side of the Marne and about a
mile south of the village of Chatillon.
1t is officially reported-from Paris that
the French lines were advanced at
that point.
Further east on the Champagne
sector, the troops of General Gourand,
by a local operation. south of Mon
tagne Sans Nom (mountain without
name) have pressed = rward over half
a mile along a front of almost two
miles The advance east of Rheims
was seemingly for the purpose of re-
storing the allied line in that section of
the battle front. The attack at Port
atkinson. however, had another OBJ
ject. German troops were reported
early in the week at Marfaux and
Pourcy, northeast of Chatillon and
the southwestern spurs OF Rheims
mountain. A considerable success
necr ChatillOn would put them in
pocket within the larger pocket and
tend to force their withdrawal to new
lines further back toward the middle
of the German salient.
Cleaning Up Woods.
Along the western side of the Ger
man salient there is no official men
ton of events of special Importance
last night. 1t is reported that French
and Americans were attacking the
enemy this morning, centering their
efforts on the work of clearing the
Germans out of the wooded areas to
the south and southwest of Fere-en-
Tardenois. This was said to be nearly
accomplished.
Along the British front near Arras
and Lens And along the Somme sec
tor. the German artillery has been
active.
British raiding parties have been
active at various points along their
lines.
Paris. July 27-Further advances
were scored by the French last night
in the region Immediately to the north
of the Marine in the district where
the Germans have been clinging to
the river The war office announced
today that the French lines were ad-
vanced to the north of Port-A-Binson.
On the Champagne front the French
carried out a local operation in the
region south of the mountain without
a name as a result of which their
lines were advanced nearly two
thirds of a mile on a front of approx
imately two miles. The French took
200 prisoners in this operation.
Closer to Fcre En- Tardenois.
(By the Associated PressJ
With the American Army on the
Aisne-Marne front. July 27, (S:30 a.
m.)-The Franco-American forces on
the front northeast of Chateau Thierry
have driven the Germans almost en-
tirely out of the wooded area which
they have been so stubbornly defend
ing. The allied pressure is being con-
stantly maintained and early today
the punishment of tho enemy by ar
tillery fire was resumed with added
vigor. Under the cover of the guns
the Franco-American troops again be-
gan crawling forward.
The advance is bringing the allies
still nearer to the important road
junction O. Fere- -En-Tardenois 1t is
being carried out thru the remainder
of the dense woods in this region and
over the rain-soaked fields and hills
on their outskirts. Slowly retreating,
the Germ ms are fighting stubbornly
as they retire.
Persistent 3 was the German rear
guard defense, however, the enemy's
most intense efforts TO hold his lines
are still being put forth on the flanks
in the Rheims and scissors regions.
Prisoners Reach 10000.
Paris. July 27.-The number of
German prisoners captured by the al
lies since the beginning of the counter
offensive is placed at 10000 by the
Havas age-cy-
American troops have discovered at
Breezy. north of Chateau Thierry, en-
placements of German super cannon
fContinued on Page TwoI