The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-09-03
LENS, COAL CITY
LONG FOUGHT FOR,
YIELDED BY HUNS
Hun Stronghold That Defied
British All Last Year.
Now Given Up Without Any
Attempt To Hold 1t.
SWITCH LINE ALL SMASHED
British Attacks Yesterday and
Today Crushed Resistance.
German Forces Seem To Be De-
mOralized by Blow.
10, 900 PRISONERS YESTERDAY
Haig's Men Advanced Four
Miles This Morning.
Drive Steadily On in the Direc-
tiOn of Cambraf.
British Attacks Yesterday and
Today Crushed Resistance.
German Forces Seem To Be De-
mOralized by Blow.
10000 PRISONERS YESTERDAY
Iaig's Men Advanced Four
Miles This Morning.
Drive Steadily On in the Direc-
tiOn of Cambraf.

London, Sept. 3 Il p. ny
The British have captured the
city of Lens.
The town of Queant also has
been taken.
/ Lens was evacuated by the
Germans, the British moving IN.
Took 10000 Prisoners IA
In their pass beyond the Drocourt-
Queant line the British have advanced
to point just to the west of Buizzy,
two and half miles northeast of
Queant and occupied Pronville, a mile
and a half southeast of Queant. More
than 10000 prisoners were taken by
the British yesterday. Additional
prisoners were taken this morning.
Gain 4 Miles on 20 Miie Front.
The British also hold Doignies,
Velu and Bertincourt and Rocquigny,
representing an advance to maxi
mum depth of 4 miles on 20 mile
front effected this morning.
In Flanders the British forces have
captured the town of Wulverghem,
. miles southeast of KENNEL.
Contrary to expectations the enemy
has not reattacked heavily with a
view to the recapture of the Queant-
Drocourt line, but has left the British
in undisputed possession of it.
The British found Doignies and
Velu unoccupied.
The situation in the southern part
of the battlefield is said to be ex-
tremely interesting but nothing more
can be said for the present.
Germans Admit Defeat.
Berlin, Sept. 3.-South and east of
Arras the British have succeeded with
strong superior forces in throwing
back our infantry line on both sides
of the S-C m hrai hiph
the official statement issued today by
the German army headquarters
Northwest of Queant and on the
northern fringe of Noreui1, the state
ment says, 1--WE held the enemy thrust. u
Take Numerous Towns.
(By the Associated PressJ
With the British Armies in France,
fighting last night beyond the Dro-
court -Queant line the British are re-
ported to have made further progress
on a front of $4,000 yards (about sew
en- miles,.
The villages of Saudemont and Re
court. more than a mile and a half
beyond Dury, the capture of which
was announced last night, are report
ed today to have been taken.
The village of Etaing, two miles
north of Dury, fell late yesterday al
! about the same time the British fur
ther southwest capturing Viller-Lez-
Cagnicourt. These captures were ef-
fected after most bitter fighting.
The determined German resistance
| at the crossroads north of Villers Leg
! Cagnicourt was overcome by the Brit;
! ish this morning and Haig's men are
now showing forward in the direction
| of Cambria.
/ A strong British force is driving
| forward on the northern reaches o.
the Hindenburg line. The British are
well in side the Drocourt-Queant line
| So far as learned no organized coun
/ ter attacks have been developed b,
the Germans but on the extreme Brit
| ish left determined opposition il
| developed.
| British troops today advanced wei
to the east of Peronne and are making
| steady progress.