The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-10-05
Americans and French in Thick
of the Battle.
Pushing the Hun Back in the
MOrOnvilIiers Hills.
COMMUNICATIONS THREATENED
General March Says Weeks
News Is Excellent.
10,5OO Prisoners and $50 Guns
Taken by the Allies.

Havre, Oct. An the operations in
Flanders since September %, the Bel
gian, British and French forces have
taken O.5OO prisoners, $50 guns and
500 machine guns, says the official
statement from the Belgian war office
tonight.
Secs Excellent Situation.
Washington, Oct. 5.-The Ameri-
can advance northwest of Verdun
threatens the greatest single line of
communication between Germany and
the west front, General March said
today. and General Pershing's forces
have now reached a point within 18
miles of this great Belgian artery.
Summarizing the news for the past
week as excellent" General March
said offensives conducted by the allies
on the three major sectors had result
ed - in q forward movement of the
battle front for practically the entire
stretch from the North sea to Verdun.
General Gouraud's army. just west
of the Argonne forest, has fought its
way forward to q point where it also
threatens German communication
lines.
Yanks Were There.
The British drive on Cambria and
St Quentin, which was aided by the
zlth NNeW York troops) ana Sotn
CTennesseS, North Carolina, South
Carolina and District of Columbia
troops) American divisions developed
into a battle for the entire Hinden-
burg line. The British, General March
said, have broken entirely across the
enemy's zone of defense. making
breaches in the line which were closed
by the Germans only after great diff
Guilty. In Flanders, the drive of the
allies has reconquered rs square miles
of Belgian territory and has formed
a semi circular salient three miles
deep. Ostend and zeebrugge, German
submarine bases, are SO threatened
that it is reported that their evacu-
tion has begun. The British are
within five miles of Lille.
The progress of General Pershing's
forces caused the German general
staff to throw into this sector many
divisions of reinforcements, the chief
of staff said, but despite this the
Americans not only have maintained
the positions won. but have pushed
forward until they now face the Ger
man Kriemhild line of defense
Follow the Austrians.
Referring to the Balkan situation,
General March today asserted that
the italian advance in Albania is close
ly following the Austrian army retir-
ing along the coast. He added that
the recent naval attack upon DLraEzo,
DtnAIU we <AuSlTldn -lTOnI5 was cS-
tremely important in connection with
the allied strategy.
American troops at ArchanGel are
commanded by Col. George E. Stewart
and include the 339 infantry. part of
the $40 engineers (both Michigan and
east Winconsin troops). and the neces-
sary hospital and medical units.
Heavy Fighting There.
(By the Associated Press.)
4 Df nd
northwest of Rheims, there has been
heavy fighting to the advantage of the
allies. on the northern sectors nos
t-ities apparently have quieted down
for the moment.
BY advancing northward over the
heights of Blanc Mont and the Medeah
farm. the French and Americans in
the Champagne placed the Germans
in the eastern part of the hill country
about Moronvilliers in a dangerous
position. To prevent being ouflanked,
the enemy retired hurriedly toward
the river Arnes. Just west of the
Suippe the French are moving toward
the important height of Moronvilliers.
Between the Suippe and Rheims, to
the west, the Germans are still in
deep salient, and the indications are
that they will retire from it altogether
now that they have given way on the
eastern flank. The German position
is being further endangered by the
French attack northwest of Rheims.
General Berthelot is attacking the
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