The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-04-01
BIG DRIVE is AT



various points and had taken the mi
tiative at several places successfully.
The most intense fighting continued
south of the Somme in the zone where
the French have been making such a
gallant stand.
The outstanding feature of the con-
flict on the northern end of the front
is that the British again have killed a
great number of the enemy which. de-
spite its harsh sound is what will end
the war.
Today the British initiated a for
ward movement about Feuchy Copse,
east of Arras. They launched a local
attack at 3 o'clock this morning and
pressed it SO vigorously that they re-
claimed a stretch of territory 1900
yards long and avera ging about goo
yards in depth This success had tao
teal advantages but they were small
compared with the fact that the Brit
ish were able, after the past ten days
of gruelling work to undertake an Of
fenSive position.
Leave 5000 Dead
South of the Somme where there
has been SO much hard lighting, the
British appear to have the situation
well in hand and the town hall of
Moreuil, about which sanguinary
struggles have been swaying was at
last reports still flying the British
flag defiant1y from the steeple. One
of the most costly attacks the enemy
attempted yesterday was between
Morelancourt and the Somme where
a heavy assault was made against the
Australians shortly after midday.
The attackers came forward in
masses and the British threw them
selves against the advancing lines SO
fiercely that the Germaas were hurled
back leaving 5000 dead
The British operations at Lassigny
farm south of Hebuterne, between AL
bert and Arras yesterday afternoon
which resulted in Strengthening the
defending line, was a brilliant sue
cess The Germans were pushed back
with heavy casualties and British
troops returned with 200 prisoners,
forty machine guns and a trench NOR
tar. South of Arras the enemy made
two attacks yesterday. One was near
melincourt, aStride the ArraS-Ba-
paume railway while the other was
north of Boisleux, st. Mare. Both of
these efforts We're smashed altho par
ticularly hard fighting occurred
around Boisleux. In this operation the
Germans advanced in great numbers
after an intense bombardment of the
British lines for two hours. At three
places the enemy succeeded in pene-
trating the defenses and a bitter hand
to hand struggle ensued- The British
made such strenuous resistance that
the Germans were thrown back 1eav-
ing numbers or dead.
Cavalry Clears Forest.
Northeast of Arras the Germans
made a small attack Saturday after a
heavy bonn bardment and pushed for
ward over a tiny strip of ground but
the operation was SO small as to be
hardly worth considering.
There was an unconfirmed report
that a large concentration of Germans
in preparation for an attack on GER
tain place on the battle front had been
caught in an artillery and machine
gun barrage and completely knocked
out.
The results of the fighting on the
British front, south of the Somme
during the past two days have been
satisfactory. Heavy German attacks
on both sides of the Luce river Friday
forced the British to fall back some
what Friday night, the enemy pushed
forward and penetrated a large wood
northeast of Moreuil. which created
an uncomfortable situation for the de-
tenders.
Saturday the British decided to at
tempt to restore the lines, and cavalry
was sent out for the purpose of clear
ing the wood and re-esta blishing the
positions north of Moreuil. There was
not a hitch in the program The cav
larry swept thru the forest like a win
ter snow storm and forced the enemy
to fall back, not only here but further
to the north. North of the Luce the
enemy yesterday morning attacked in
force along the British line between
Warfusee and Marcelcave. This as
sault was preceded by a vigorous ar
tillery bombardment. The cavalry
again came into play and by 10 O'Clock
the Germans were compelled to admit
defeat and to retire with large casual
ties.
A little later the enemy again put