The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-04-26
RACES
IN BOTH PICARDY
and FLANDERS
Germans Shift From Amiens to
Northern Front.
Tactics Parallel Those Used
Against Verdun.
BRITISH RECAPTURE VILLAGE
Germans Take KENNEL Hill
After Furious Fight.
Thousands of BOches Hurled
Into Struggle.
Germans Shift From AmienS to
Northern Front.
Tactics Parallel Those USe'
Against Verdun.
BRITISH RECAPTURE VILLAGE
Germans Take KENNEL Hill
After Furious Fight.
Thousands of BOches Hurled
Into Struggle.

London, April 26.-The Germans in
their attack on the northern battle
front have occupied KENNEL Hill,
Gen. Delma Radcliffe. chief director of
military operations at the war office,
stated this afternoon
Altho faced by a superior force in
the ten mile sector between Bailleul
and HolIebeke. the Anglo-French
troops hoding this line. battled stub
bornIy all day yesterday, giving
ground only when compelled to by
weight of numbers. The line seemed
TO have held fairly well to the south
west of Mont KENNEL, but to the
northeast the Germans were appar-
entity able to push forward far enough
in the neighborhood of Vierstraat to
enable them to approach the height
on the flank.
Kcn,mcI Big Loss.
Definite possession of KENNEL hill
bv the Germans means the British may
have to abandon the Ypres salient. ac-
cording 10 correspondents at the
front.
The fighting on the Somme front has
died down to artillery fire. following
successful execution yesterday of the
British coup which reclaimed the viii
lage of Nilers- -BretonneuX from the
Germans. The British troops last
night completed the operation here
for the time being by cleaning out hos
tile posts which were holding out to
the southeast of the village. This
tabIished the British once more well
k9n the high ground in this sector
French Counter Attacked.
CBy the Associated Press)
With the British Army in France,
April 26.-The French this morning
were counter attacking at Mont KEN
mel in an attempt to reclaim the posi-
tions taken. by the Germans. Yester
days fighting was of a desperate ma
ture and the enemy gains were only
made 1T frightful cost.
Unable to Progress Elsewhere.
Unable to make appreciable prog
ress against the defense of the Brit
the line south of the Somme in Pi-
cardy the enemy swung his attacks to
the northern battle-ground. AS on
Wednesday his first assaults on the
seven mile front from Bailleul to KEN
mel to Wytschaete were successful and
the allied troops were compelled to
give up their first defense line.
The tactics of switching attacks is
not new to the Germans and was per-
sisted in by them in their vain attempt
to capture Verdun two years ago.
After the first successful lunge on
both sides of the Meuse the enemy
tried to gain his objective by attack
ing first on the right bank and then
on the left. Apparently the Germans
are now trying the same methods by
alternating between Picardy and F'lan-
ders in attempts to reach -Amiens and
wipe out the Ypres salient.
A Greater Drive Elsewhere?
1t is not improbable the Germans
may be making strong attacks on va
rious sectors in an endeavor to cover
' preparations for an effort some place
else but it is significant that they have
attacked on the most important sec
tors on either battlefront.
South of the Somme the Germans
have been driven from the high
ground and village of Villers- Breton
neux by the British with the loss of
600 prisoners Further south they
hold Hangard. On this front heavy
artillery duels are in progress. Ameri-
can wounded in the fighting on the
French sector from Hangard to Castel
are arriving in Paris.
In the Woevre, near Regnieville,
which is live miles northeast of
Seicheprey. where General Pershing's
men were attacked heavily last Sat
urday. the French have repulsed a
strong German attack The enemy
Eained 2 footing in advanced elements