The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-07-27
ATTACK is SHIFTED
Continued rom Page One,
which bon.barded towns behind the
front and perhaps Paris.
LulI on Most of Front.
(By the Associated Press

LulI on MOSJ OF 'FRONT.'.
(By the Associated Press.)
A lull, probably only for a few
hours, has Interviewed in the desper-
ate battle in the Marine salient. The
allied offensive, altho unchecked by
the Germans, has slowed down.
Enemy counter attacks have ceased
for the moment.
Meanwhile the allied artillery is
pouring q heavy fire on the German
bases, depots and lines of communica-
ton within the pocket between
Rheims and scissors. The entire re-
gion is within the range of the big
guns and, as on the previous days,
they continue to hammer the enemy
INCREASINGLY. Allied airmen have in
creased the intensity of their bomb
ing operations. AS result the Ger
mans within the pocket probably are no
better off than during the period of
bitter fighting around the ever-nar-
rowing edges.
Allies Cast Most of Bad Ground.
From the Ourcq to the Marine and
along the Marine the Germans have
been cleared almost entirely from the
Fere and Ris forests and the Tour
nellie wood and now stand with their
backs against the virtually clear
plateau between Fere-EnTardenois
and NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. The allied
lines are within a few miles of these
places and Fere, originally the most
important southern base, is of no use
to The enemy, allied guns dominating
the town and the diverging roads. This
situation was improved further for the
allies by the capture of V4llemontoire
and Oulchy-Le-Chateau which the
Germans have made no attempt to
retake.
Showers in Battle Area.
Almost all the progress Friday was
made in the wooded areas north of the
NJ ~.
Ourcq. Using as small number of
men as possible the enemy depended
upon the artillery and machine guns
to halt the French and Americans but
they pushed on and chased~the Ger
mans to the northern edges. Local
showers fell over much of the battle
area Friday.
1t is believed the German crown
| prince continues to withdraw his men
and supplies from the salient. .Furth-
er fires have been seen and explosions
heard within the enemy lines. 70 with
draw would hehan admission by the
crown prince that he had met with a
serious set back. There would prob
ably be a drop in the German morale.
and the German command may pre-
| fer to hold on rather than to admit
| defeat. From a military standpoint
the Germans would improve their po-
sition If they retired to the Ves1e.
| All the ground gained along the
Marine in the onslaught of July IS
has been lost to the Germans except
q stretch of eight miles. East of
Rheims in the Champagne, General
Gouraud has been busy and has re-
occupied his former first line east of
the Suippe The advance measures
more than so yards on a, front of over
ten miles and includes the recapture
| of Main De Massignes. In the opera
ton the French took 100 prisoners.
Paris last night also reported the cap
| trre of 700 Germans on the western
flank of the salient, making a total OF
1880. The latest estimate of German
prisoners taken since July IS is 30
600.
Ready on other Sectors.
On the other sectors in France the
allies await German thrusts. There
is a strong belief in some quarters that
the enemy will strive to ease the stu
alton north of the Marne by a strong
attack elsewhere but nothing has ma
terialized The, Germans have failed
to repeat their futile attack against
the British in Flanders and their at
tempted raids on that battlefield as
well as north of Albert have been re-
pulsed.
Air Fighting Heavy.
British airmeh in the past week
have accounted for ninety-one enemy
machines while losing fifty-one. Long
distance raiding was the greatest dur
ing the war. Twenty-Five incursion:
into Germany were made and 154 IONS
!. of bombs dropped. Zeebrugge and
Ostend also were bombed. Further
complications have arisen in the 81
berian situation. A provisional gov
eminent at Omsk in central Siberia
claims supreme authority and mas de-
clared the independence of Siberia
Another report received in Londor
says that the Siberian government al
VIadivostok, presumably that headed
by General Horvath. has resigned
Appoint Arsenal Supervisor.
/ Washington. July 27.-Col. John