The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-07-29
Huns Are Getting Away With
Nearly All Guns.
Probably Compelled To Destroy
Much Ammunition.
GREAT MORAL DEFEAT
Paris Verdun Railway Restored
to French Control.
Salient Will Be FIattened Out
to Straight Line.

London, July 29.-The German re-
treat is being conducted skillfully. the
ground has favored them and the
dense woods has enabled them to hold
up many kinds of advancing troops
with a few small groups of machine
guns, says the Reuter- correspondent
with the American troops in France.
The enemy losses have been very
small, he adds, compared to the ad-
vantage gained, for time is of more
value to the Germans than many SOL
diers.
Get Away With Most of Guns.
The Germans have lost a good deal
besides ground but have carried off
almost all the guns tho doubtless be-
ing compelled to destroy much am
munition
The enemy has suffered a great
moral defeat and severe losses in men
but the retirement has cost him moth
ing compared to the damage suffered
by him in his vain assaults east of
Rheims. When the allies come up
against his prepared position they will
doubtless find him in great strength.
Restores Vital Railway.
What seems the most valuable STRAIT
esic result to the allies of the Ger
man retreat is the restoration to allied
use of the great Paris-Chateau
Thierry- Chalons railway, by means of
victualled and which will be an i'm
portant factor in future military de-
velopmentS.
The action may now slow down and
even become stabilized for time be-
tween Scissors ard Rheims where the
Germans apparently are concentrating
great forces but the fact remains that
the enemy is badly beaten.
He not only does not hold i single
inch of ground gained since July Is,
1 Co.
TO abandon nearly half the advantages
gained by his offensive Of May II.
Salient Will Flatten to Straight Line.
The question now is, will the enemy
settle down to resistance on the pla-
teau south of the Vesle, or continue
his retirement to the heights between
the Vesle and the AiSne. The answer
will depend on the extent of his losses
and the number of his reserves, and
indications hitherto are that his losses
have not been excessive. 1t is regard
ed as certain at least that the salient
will be flattened to a straight line
from Scissors to Rheims, which alone
would shorten the Allies line by thirty
miles and lessen the demands on the
allied reserves.
Causes of Retreat.
French papers are discussing the
causes of the retreat. Some attribute
it to the fall of Oulchy LIE Chateau,
while others state that the British at
tack at Marfaux and Chaumusey is re-
sponsible because of the increased
threat against F'ismes. which is the
key to the whole salient.
Americans Changed.
The correspondent describes the
change effected by active service on an
American division which he last saw
a few months ago. He writes:
'It was then eager, raw, young and
expectant. Since then it has been tried
/ by the ordeal of fire and in a great
| battle which crushed part of the Ger
man effort. The change in the faces
| of these boys is very striking. They
| look grave and bronZed, quite like
veterans. They are just as full OF
fight as ever and at the present mo-
ment are impressing that fact on the
enemy but they have been thru the
| valley of the shadow and have not
come out of it unchanged"
| Advance on 90 Mile Front.
| Since yesterday the allies have ad-
vanced between two and three miles
| on a twenty mile front.
The enemy has definitely abandoned
! the line of the Ourcq and there is lit
tie doubt now that he will go back be-
yond the Vesle to the line thirty miles
| long between scissors and Rheims,
which is probably we'll entrencned and
| has good lines Of communication.
The German retirement has been
quite orderly and deliberate. Sc far
/ the taking of only four guns has been