The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-05-29
Advance of Fifteen and a Half
Miles Reported.
French Backed Up Against
SOissOnS Now.
new CRISIS REACHED TODAY
Are Attacking Hard for Town
of FiSmeS.
Have Already Forced Crossings
of Vesle River.
PART OF ORIGINAL DRIVE PLAN
PART OF ORIGINAL DRIVE PLAN
Ready To Attack Either at
Amiens or Rheims.
British and French Retirement
in Perfect Order.

Amsterdam, May 29.-Emperor
William, who is on the field of bat
tie south of Laon, on the Aisne front,
has sent the following telegram to
the empress at Potsdam:
William apparently Crown
Prince Frederick William) has today
attacked the British and French on
the Chennin des Danes. The strongly
consolidated height, after being sub
jected to mighty artillery fire has been
stormed by our glorious infantry we
have crossed the Aisne and are ap-
preaching the Vesle.
Fritz, with the first guards infan-
try division was one of the first to
reach the Aisne. (This evidently an
other reference to the crown pr1nce-)
The twenty-eighth division also, mas
again distinguished itself. The British
and French were completely surprised.
Our losses are small. Tomorrow we
shall make further progress.
"God has granted US a splendid vic
tory and will help further. Greetings.
Advance Fifteen and Half Miles.
Paris, May 29-"The German ad-
vance. at certain points on the Aisne
| front, has reached a depth of fifteen
and a half miles" the Echo De Paris
declares today.
The French troops have fallen back
| to the eastern outskirts of scissors,
where the battle continues with bitter
ness, the French war offlce announced
this afternoon.
| Franco-British troops, the statement
adds. have fallen back to the heights
south and southeast of St Th1erry
where they are holding positions be-
tween the Vesle and the Aisne canal
THE French left was drawn back
to the eastern border of scissors,
| he hat q going l.
ously," the communique said.
Nine Miles on French Left.
| (This represents a maximum re-
tirement of about nine miles on the
extreme French 1eft.)
"On the right flank the French and
British. after an energetic defense OF
Masnif Oiterally "waI") of st
Rheims) were drawn back slowly to
the south and southeast of these
| heights They are holding between
the Vesle canal and the Aisne."
! In the center, continues the wal
| office announcement, fighting Is
| going on with varying success on the
| heights on the southern bank of the
Vesle river, where the French troops
are bravely and admirably defend
| ing their positions.
Withdrawal Intended.
With the French Army in France
May 29.-The allied command per.
ceived when the German offensive be-
gan that resistance on the lines ther
held would be impracticable, and ef-
| fected a withdrawal towards stronger
positions in order to give the reserve
time to come up. The enemy found
both nanks were holding, however.
The Germans pushed forward a:
quickly as possible with all the troop!
at their disposal. The allies gave
way, fighting hard. Both the French
and British troops on the f1ank'
fought with extraordinary courage an(
| succeeded in holding on. notwith
standing the great odds against them
In some places they were outnum
bered ten to one.
The enemy now has the Aisne at hi
back and may find himself in al
awkward position when the allied re
serves come into action.
| A New Crisis Today.
Washington, May 29.-West from
fighting reached a new crisis today