The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-06-10
Blocked Along the Marne, Enc
my Tries the Disc Valley.
Attacked on a Front of About
Twenty Miles.
DRIVE is AIMED AT PARIS
German Losses Are Reported
To Be Enormous.
Deepest Penetration Is Only
About 234 Miles.
(By the Associated Press.)

(By the Associated Press)
Comparatively slow progress attend
ed by losses described as enormous. is
being made by the Germans in their
latest effort 20 break the allied front
in France The advance against the
line from Noyon to the eastern sub
urbs of Montdidier coming quickly
after the force of the offensive on the
Aisne had been spent, has encoun-
tered resistance and it is only over a
comparativel short section OF the
line that the enemy has made appre-
ciabIe gains The deepest penetration
reported so far is approximately "a
miles.
Foch Was Ready.
It has been believed since the drive
toward Amiens stopped that General
Foch had the greater bulk of his re-
serves in or near the area that is now
being alta cked. Not only are these
troops within striking distance OF the
front but there are natural obstacles
which also, initiate against the entlre
success of the German assault. Ine
high hills which now are the scene OF
heavy fighting, are but outposts OF
the positions which are prepared
along the Disc river, which blsects the
field upon which the battle Will De
fought if the first lines of defense are
overwhelmed.
Trying to Close Jaws on PARIS.
The present assault on the line east
of Montdidier may be considered as
a complement of the offensive along
the Aisne and when the map is studied
il will be seen that the "pincer' sys-
tenn followed by Mackensen in Russia,
Serbia and Rumania is again at work.
If the thrust just west of Noyon sue
ceeds in gaining extensive ground 1t
will approach the line from scissors
TO Chateau Thierry and positions TAX
en- up by the allies there would be
forced. =zl..ss. !
Amiens Also Threatened.
ON the other hand If the drive
gains ground further west it viii out
flank the positions held by the French
and American at MontGidier and COM
pei their readjustment with the re-
sultant uncovering of Amiens.
The wings, however, seem to be
holding firmly and the only gains SC
far made have been in almost the CEN
ter of the line. where they are least
harmful to the security of the fronts
on either side of the new battle area
Used 100000 Men.
According to advices from the from
the Germans have thrown more thar
100000 men against the line which
measures a little over twenty miles ir
length. This does not equal the mum.
Cambria on March 81, nor is it such g
concentration of men to the mile as
was used at the inception of the Ger.
man offensive in Flanders in April
but it is a menacing force to which
may be added at any time the full
weight of the German reserves which
are believed to be massed somewhere
near.
American and French troops operat
ing northwest of Chateau Thierry re.
pulsed German attacks last night and
made new progress.
A German attempt to assault the
British positions at Aveluy wood
north of Albert. was repulsed, while
a British raid near Bethune, north
west of Lens, was successful.
On the rest of the front there ha,
been no fighting of a significant ma
ture.
Germans Have 100000 in Reserve.
(By the United Press.)
With the French Armies in th'
Field, June 10.-The present drive OF
the Montdidier-Noyon front, accord
ing to military critics, constitutes the
northern arm of a vast encirclins
product aimed against Paris.
This movement, starting from th
Avre. in the region of Montdidier anC
being pushed southwark as far a
possible towards the capital, would &C
ordinate with a southern envelopint
attack from Chateau-Thierry thu
seeking to envelop the American ant
French troops between Montdidier ant
ChateauThierry.
The Germans still have a minimum
OF about fifty unenga ged division:
100000 men) for their present eff
fort. The determined resistance o
the French, who are holding the en-
emy on the wings and only permitting
comparatively slight progression il
the center, has gained sufficient tim'
TO enable the allies-for the first tim,
since the original drive in March
to bring UP reserves before appreciabl,
amount of ground was lost.
Brought Up Troops at Last Moment.
Paris, June 1O.-The Germans ha,
to bring up their troops at the las
moment in order to avoid giving alarm
to the allies. AS the columns arrive,
they were compelled to deploy from
the column of march into the line O.
attack. This operation, which take
some hours, exposes the men to al
unpleasant artillery fire unless tn,
element of surprise is preserved.
The German attacking troops com.
ing out to envelop the heights o
Bocages and Riquebourg, dominatir,
the Matz valley, offered splendid
target to the French gunners The
enemy had to throw in division afte,
devisfon before he was able to driv,
his way forward to Ressons-Sur-M Mat
and Mareuil along the Roye road
which was swept by French fire.
Ressons-Sur- Matz is a central no
sltlon from which the enemy can di
rect attacks southward to Estrees- ST
Denis or southeast to Compiegne. Fl,
Is pelng strC Cngly counter attacked
however. and will only be able to de
Nelop his advantage at heavy cost IL a
GNnHnef