The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-10-03

YANkS in FRONT.
In Russia They Hold the Main
Positions.
At the notwithstanding Line
on French Front.
IN CONTACT WITH OLD SYSTEM
The Germans Are in Retreat
Before Americans.
Artillery Action is Reported on
Center of Line.

Archangel, Tuesday, Oct. Amer
lean troops now hold the farthest
point south reached by any of the al
lied forced in the advance south from
Archangel. This point is a small vii
lage thirty-five miles south of Shen-
ketrsk, on the river Vaga. The Boil
shevik stronghold of Velsk is only
forty miles away.
Yanks in France.
With the American Army North
west of Verdun, Oct 3.-Amerlcan
units reached the Kriemhild-S
line at one point today. Just south or
Brieulles they advanced to spot
where they established actual contact
with this famous enemy system
The so-called Kriemhild-Steelun
line which the American front faces
today is part of the general German
defensive system beginning at Doual.
continuing south of La Fere and
thence east to the Mouse. Crossing
the Mouse the line extends eastward
by the-way of Etain and runs across
the ST. Mihiel salient to the Moselle.
which it reaches just south of Pagny.
When the st. Mihiel salient was re-
duced by the Americans the enemy
was forced behind this system in that
vicinity.
On the greater part of the front be-
tween the Aire and Mouse rivers the
enemy is either on or Immediately in
front of this line. On this front the
enemys main combat zone was bound
ed on the south by line of resistance
along Lairfuon >ravine and on the
north by the Voll5er-Steelung line.
This exceptionally strong system orig
inaIly began east of Montfaucon and
ran south OF that city thru IVORY.
Epinonville and the woods east OF
Eclisfontain.
Break Thru Resistance.
The Americans have already broken
thru this principal zone of resistance,
and so are facing the Krfiemhild-
Steelung system. From the west to
the east along this front the system
runs from north of St. Juvin to south
of Landres- Et-Ge orges and continues
eastward, including the heights OF
Romagne wood and Gesnes wood,
which dominate the important valley
of the Andon. This river is crossed
Just south of Romagne and then the
system runs to the southeast across
the higher ground in the forests of
De Cunel and De Fais. Then, turning
northward, it follows the crest OF the
hills over naturally strong positions
until it reaches the Mouse north OF
Brieulles.
Hun Is withdrawing
The Germans, it was further indi-
Gated today are Withdrawing from
their advanced positions to the Kriem-
hild-SteIlung line.
Their retreat is protected by a
strongly placed mainline gun position
in the difficult terrain between their
advanced line and their new defenses.
Artillery fighting increased consider
ably early this morning. The weather
continues cold and the roads are dry
ing rapidly, improving fighting con-
ditions.
Artillery Firing.
Violent artillery firing developed
along the center of the American line
between the Mouse and the Aisne to-
day. The Germans also ibomsarded
the American positions on the right
near the Mouse to limited extent but
on the extreme left there was sig
nificant silence for the greater part
of the day.
Along this sector of the front ths
positions held by the Americans fol-
low a zigzag line. The number of
Germans near the Argonne forest is
less than that fighting on the eastern
side. General Gouraud's drive west
of the forest, together with the ad-
vance of the Americans to the east of
it threatens to cut off the enemy
units still clinging to the wooded hills
south of Grandpre. No general Of
fensive was undertaken-by the Amer
leans today.
With the Americans west or YER
dun. Oct. 3.-The Americans have now
advanced from seven to eight kilo-
meters (four to four and one-half
milesl thru the tangled Argonne for
est since the start of their offensive.
This forward movement has been
accomplished by smothering machine
gun nests. bridging great masses of
barbed wire entanglements and drag
ging up artillery and wagons by hand.
With the American Army in the st.
Quentin Sector, Wednesday, Oct. q
American regiments fighting on the
Hindenburg line along this sector of
. the front have seen some of the hard
est fighting of the war. 1t was a furi-
Gus, desperate struggle into which
they plunged. They fought day and
night. in groups and single handed, in
and out of shell holes. They showed
gallantry, self sacrifice and devotion
to duty unsurpassed by any other
troops.
AS this is the last enemy defense
system between the Americans and
the Mouse where it flows north to
Mezieres, a stubborn effort to hold it
may be expected and the difficulty of
carrying this system is not under
rated by the Americans