The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-04-08
YAUNk RESERVES
CContinued from Rage one.l

Continued from Rage Onel
lions, later after the most severe
treat. leaving the situation unchanged.
Mont Renaud, near Noyon, saw re-
peated attacks from the Germans
fhruout Saturday. but all were equal
Iy futile. The hill was the first point
where the French barred the German
advance thru the Disc valley towards
Gompeigne and Paris. When the Ger
mans first swept down from Noyon
the hill changed hands repeatedly.
The ground therea bouts shows strik-
ing evidence Of the fearful nature of
the battle in the number of German
bodies that can be seen.
s. French Won't Bulge.
Since March 80, the French have
not budged. In fact they have gained
= some ground on the northern slopes
of the hill. The Germans occupied
two hills overlooking Mont Renaud,
which possess little practical value,
altho they afford view of what is 60
ing on in Noyon, and slightly beyond
that town
Further eastward along the Disc the
French fell back Saturday from the
dangerous salient north of Amigny.
Fighting all the way, they retired to
better positions which had beer pre-
pared along the Ailette river.
Use Up % Divisions.
(By the Associated Press)
With the French Army in France,
Sunday, April Twenty-Five sdivi
sions have been used by the Germans
IN this last four days in efforts to
break thru the French line and reach
the railroad running south from
Anliens. All attacks have been check
ed by the wonderful resistance of the
French, some of whom were thrown
into the line as soon as they arrived
ON the battlefield.
< The Germans are obtaining only in
advance, considering the number of
troops engaged, as the German force
Is at least three times as great as the
humber of French defenders.
French Are Cheerful.
8 The cheerfulness and confidence
witt which the French troops go into
action is remarka BILE. They feel they
arc better than the enemy and make
light of the German superiority in
mum bers. The French command con-
Anucs to work on the principle of
Using the smallest possible number of
hoGps to stay the German rush, thus
retaining the reserves for possible at
Backs some place else.
= Powerful trench mortars have made
their appearance behind the German
Infantry, but up to this time have
not Influenced the situation to any
extent and in some places the guns
have been unable to approach within
an effective range. On the other
hand an enormous number of ma chine
guns pour an intense barrage into the
French lines and at the same time
the German infantry attempts under
cover of this fire to get close to the
French line in small groups and
establish pockets from which to leap
Forward at the proper moment
Terrible Losses.
3 This procedure was quickly neu-
Ualized by the French and the Ger
mans are now resuming E1assed at
fScks in which their men come under
the direct fire of French machine
guns. rifles. grenades and ISIS which
1nfllct terrible losses. The 75's do
terrific execution, cutting wide lanes
Through the enemy ranks.
81 The enemy commanders appear to
pay little attention to this slaughter
Eheir aim being to reach the objective
Whatever the cost.
On Marshy Ground.
= Whether the German attacks on the
front between the Disc and Coucy are
designed as a feint to draw French at
Sent1on from q more vital point or are
the beginning of a strong effort to
force the French back to the Aisne
remains for developments to show Tn
TO the present the Germans have only
gained the marshy ground along the
Disc and the low lying ground between
Chauny and Coucy,. as well as the
lower forest of Coucy. which was vir-
1ually denuded of trees in the German
retreat of March. 1917. Facing them
now are the heights on the line run
ming south CT Logon. thru Coucv to
Anizy and thence across the Ailette
- hA g..