The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-07-17
Heavy Fighting Continues All
Along the Front.
Huns Concentrate Against Vital
Points in Line.
IRE STILL HELD EVERYWHERE
Deepest Gain South of Marne Is
About Five Miles.
Enemy Troops There Are In
Dangerous Position.
tBy the Associated PressJ

Throwing new forces into the fray
to maintain the strongest pressure
against the allies, the Germans have
not yet captured important positions
and on most of the front are being
held in check.
along the Marne and on the plateau
east of Rheims Enemy progress on
the Marne is slow and Franco-Ameri-
can forces have recaptured two towns
and heights commanding the bend IN
the river at Dormans as well as addl-
tional prisoners.
Apparently the allied resistance
Monday was greater than the German
command had anticipated. The
enemy has changed his tactics to
strong local attacks at vital points in
stead of continuing general assault
along the front from Chateau Thierry
to near the Argonne.
Penetrate About Five Miles.
In the region of Dormans and east
ward along the Marne the Germans
have penetrated about five miles and
now hold both banks of the river for
stretch of about fourteen miles
Strong and repeated attempts to en-
large their gains north and south OF
the river have been repulsed. Unless
they can enlarge their hold on the riv-
er the troops along the Marne are in d
dangerous situation should an allied
counter attack begin.
Seek to Flank Mountain OF Rheims.
Evidently the German purpose in
striving to press forward astride the
river to Epernay is to outflank the
strong natural obstacle of the noun
l'tain of Rheims, which lies between
the Marine and Rheims. Attacks
against this height from the west have
stopped for the moment and no effort
has been made to attack Rheims
frontally..
Formidable attempts by the Ger
mans to break the main French line
at Prunay, about eight miles east OF
Rheims. have been broken up by the
stubborn resistance of the French
| who hold a line along the Vesle river.
| In the region of Tahure and Crosnes in
| the hilly country west of the Argonne
| to advance further than the first ad-
| vanced line. Repeated attacks there
have been repulsed with heavy losses
| / the French.
Huns Claim $4,000 Prisoners.
Monday the Germans captured 49,
600 prisoners. according to Berlin.
The first lengthy official statement on
the new offensive did not mention any
decided gains and the statement OF
Tuesday night showed that the allied
resistance was still strong, If not
| stronger. The latest German report
| says the allies delivered counter at
| tacks on the Marne, that the Germans
had local successes southwest OF
Rheims and that the situation is un-
| changed east of Rheims.
| Down Forty-One Hun Planes.
Aerial fighting has been intense
French airmen have accounted for
forty-one German machines and nine
| balloons besides destroying five
| bridges across the Marne Berlin
| claims the destruction of thirty-one
, airplanes and four balloons.
| West of Chateau Thierry America.
| troops around Vaux have repulsed 6
strong German local attack. After
the first setback the enemy made M
other attempts to penetrate the Ameri
can positions. Except for an increase
in German artillery fire on some sec
tors of the British front there ha
been no other activity in France.
Italians Still Win.
On the Italian mountain front nea
Monte Grappa Italian troops hav,
gained ground and taken nearly To-
i prisoners. Vienna says all attack
were repulsed. The French advanc,
up the Devoli valley in eastern Al
bania continues and three more vii
lagos have been taken from the Aus
trians.
BoIsheviki Threaten Allies.
Premier Lenine, as head Of tn
Russian government. is reported abou
ready to break off diplomatic relation
with Great Britain and other countrle
which have armed forces on the Muir
man coast. American troops hav
been reported there in aiding the Brit
| ish in protecting the ports along tn
! coast and the Murman railway. Th
local populst ton has welcomed tn
allied troops.
IA KAECEP KIIIINn EOOI