The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-05-31
Desperate Effort in Progress
South of NOyOn.
aim Is To Break In Side OF
New Salient.
FRENCH HAVE FALLEN BACK
1t Connects Aisne Front WIN
Picardy Now.
Rheims Still Held, but May BE
Given Up Soon.

With the French Army in France
May Fighting has been begun on
a new section of the battle line IN the
region of the Ailette river between the
Aisne front and the front OF the Ger
man attack in March Owing 10 the
ability of the enemy to bring to bear a
large concentration of artillery anu
the use of poison gas shells. the alhes
were obliged to withdraw slightly.
(By the Associated Press)
Paris. MAY 31.-The allied lelt
flank on the Aisne front mas peeh
forced back by violent German at
tacks in the region of the Ailette rlV-
err it is announced officially
Near Soissons and further south
German attacks broke down, the
French maintaining their POSITIONS
In the center the Germans mace
slight advance north of the Marhe
Further east and also northwest anu
north of Rheims all the German et-
forts were in vain. The French by a
counter attack won back the town OF
Thillois, west of Rheims
Withdrawing before the German
onslaught in the region of the Ailette,
the French fell back on positions
north of Blerancourt (nine miles
southeast of Noyon) and Epagny,
(seven miles northwest of Soissons)-
The French are holding their positions
along the road between scissors and
Chateau Thierry, as well as in the
western outskirts of scissors.
Attack on New Front.
Keeping the tide of their advance
in the center flowing strongly, altho
seemingly less swiftly toward the
Marne, the Germans simultaneously
have executed a stroke on the allied
left flank that has extended the battle
line westward and virtually linked up
the present battlefield with that of
the Somme.
The attack was delivered along the
Ailette river, northwest of scissors.
Sweeping forward in the salient that
projected between Somme and the
Aisne battlefields, the Germans drove
the allied line back so that it now
runs northwestward from the vicinity
of Scissors, thru Epagny and Bleran-
court to the Disc river, apparently at
its ~oint of junction with the Disc
canal, about eight miles east of
Noyon.
Was in Former Effort
The Noyon area was included with
in the field of the German offensive
in March, when the French establish
ed new lines along the Disc and the
Disc canal to the east and southwest
of that town after being driven back
below st. Quentin. The German drive
down the Disc valley toward Paris
was then checked. The present often
sive movement here suggests the pos
sibility of its resumption.
The advance in the center has now
brought the Germans within two miles
of the Marne at one point, Paris dis
patches report
The wedge here appears increasing
ly narrow, however, and on it's flanks
below scissors and Rheims the enemy
is reported firmly held. The French
war office announces the breaking
down of enemy attacks in the Sois-
sons area and to the south while on
the allied right the line extending
northeastward toward Rheims from
the neighborhood of vezilly appears
unchanged. the Germans failing in all
their efforts to win ground.
Right Wing Holds
The energetic defense on the right
wing is exemplified by the fighting at
Thillois, three miles east of Rheims,
where the Germans entered the town
only to be driven out by a French
counter attack.
BY such resistance the safety of
Rheims is momentarily safeguarded,
but observers of the operations view
its ultimate fall as apparently newt
able. The probability of German
penetration right up to the banks of
the Marine in the center of the ad-
vance is likewise indicated in the news
dispatches, which mention the near
dppIOdcn OF the OeTHldnS TO Cndleau
Thierry and Dormans, both of which
towns are on the Marine river. The
civilian population has left Chateau
Thierry and some of the refugees
from it have already passed thru
Paris for the interior.
On the British front the Germans
are active with their artillery east of
Amlens and in the Albert region to
the north as well as on portions of
the Flanders front, but no infantry
movements of note are reported.
In the Toul sector on the French
'front.' the Americans have carried out
a successful raid.
Where the Line Runs.
The fighting front, it is declared.
runs as follows:
From Chavigny north of scissors ii
describes a circle west of that city
and rejoins the river Crise south of
SCISSORS. Then it goes to Berry, fol-
lows the Soissons-Chateau Thierry
road, until near Hartennes where il
bends southeast to Grand Rozoy. Then
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