The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-05-01
BATTERED B0CHE
FORCES QUIET ON
WESTERN FRONT
Severe Punishment of Allies
Holds Them Down.
Ypres Salient Still as Stable
as Ever.
FRENCH IMPROVE POSITION
British Take Prisoners in
Night Raid.
Artillery Duels Occur on
Picardy Front.
Take Prisoners in
Night Raid.

0eo"Heu Dy lne severe punishment
infucted by the British and French,
the Germans in Flanders have given
up for the moment their attempts to
gain further hill positions west of
Mont KENNEL. Meanwhile it is pre-
eumed that General Won Arnim is re-
forming his battered forces and bring
ing up new reserves to hurl against
the granite allied defense
German occupation of Mont Kem-
mel. altho a strategic loss. has not
enabled the enemy to encroach furth-
er into the British and French posi-
tions southwest of Ypres nor has it
apparently brought any nearer the
evacuation of the flattened Ypres sa-
lient. After the intense fighting of
Monday in which the Germans strove
desperately to enlarge their gains on
the high ground north of the Lys,
there has been only local fighting.
Apparently the allied commanders
are content to hold hold on to their
present line and to let the Germans
make more attacks in an endeavor
to drive them back. In their disas
trous repulse the Germans not only
failed to gain, altho using larger
forces than the defenders. but they
were driven from some positions they
had held since the capture of Mont
KENNEL last week.
Today's official statement reveals no
break in the comparative quiet on
al the recently active fronts in Flan-
ders and to the south.
British Take Prisoners.
In local fighting in the former areas
the British repulsed an attack by the
Germans near st. Julien, northeast of
nd f.aI- EariGn 40 iron h
troops in Flanders carried out a small
operation which was important in that
it improved their position on the
valuable holding ground about Locre,
which protects the flank of Mont
Rouge.
On the Somme front the continual
tion of artillery actions of some vio-
lence is reported near Viilers-Breton-
neux, and to the south along the Avre.
Has Been German Failure.
London, May 1.-The failure of the
German attacks southwest of Ypres
on Monday with its immense losses to
the enemy is commented on here in a
more hopeful and more confident tone
which is in marked contrast with some
recent comments on news of the pro-
gress of the German advance toward
the channel ports.
The consensus of opinion is that the
enemy on Monday suffered the most
severe and costly repulse since he be-
gan his offensive March 21, and it is
contended that if the terms of VIC
tory and defeat are applicable to sin
gle phases of such a prolonged battle
then the allies on Monday won a very
substantial victory.
Comparison is made between the
present operations and the French de-
fense of Verdun and the opinion is ex-
pressed that the German experience
the Verdun front is being repea ted
in their effort to capture the group of
hills southwest of Ypres. The enemy
failure up to this time to achieve his
objective and especially his bloody re-
pulse Monday are regarded uni
versally as a hopeful augury for the
future of the allied defense.
Not Too Optimistic:
Nevertheless the commentators warn
against optimism. They remark that
altho the enemy has been foiled, il
does not mean necessarily that the en-
terprise has been abandoned but
rather it has been suspended in favor
of an attack at some point where a
successful defense seems less assured
American Front Stable.
(By the Associated PressJ
With an American Army on
French Battle Front. Tuesday April
30.-The situation along the American
sector gradually is becoming stabilized
Ihere nave oeen no infantry encoun-
ters in the last forty-eight hours, al
tho small patrol parties or outposts
have met in the darkness and mist.
Despite rain and poor visibility the
American and French artillery have
been most active in shelling enemy
back areas. A certain American bat
terry has been laying heavy barrage
on enemy batteries and positions
around a certain village which has
been virtually wiped out. The German
artillery is less active than on the days
Immediately following the Americans
mans are throwing some gas shells
Weather conditions prevent aerial
activity on either side.
Artillery i'm Picardy.
Along the Flanders front and in
Picardy strong artillery lombard
ments continue. The Germans have
been throwing great numbers of shells
intA the I-Eench nASitiAnS a arailra q