The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-11-19

FRANCE
[Ry United Press staff correspon

[sy a United Press staff correspon-
dent.
PARIS, Nov. 19.-Heavy lombard
ment by the German artillery along
the northern front still marks the
fighting in that section, today's Off
| cial communique declares. Infantry
assaults upe she allied lines have
been aban in Flanders for the
present, 4 ,e artillery dueIs con-
Detet attempts of the Germans
to re' . 3rracy-Le-vaI, captured by
the >durins last week, have been
| ~ PREPARED TO STICK.
/ me following is the first story
from the front by William Philip
simms, appointed by the French gov
/ ernment as the only American cores
pondent permitted to visit the battle
line with military attaches Of neutral
naions.
| [By William Philip slmns, United
! Press staff Correspondent
| [copyright 1914 by the United Press.l
! tcopyriehted in Great Britain.
| WITH THE FRENCH ARMY AT
THE FRONT, VIA PARIS, Nov. 49,
France is prepared to wage the war to
the bitter end. Everything shows
clearly how perfectly the republic has
made ready. What ! have seen and
heard give me the impression that
| France faces long war, absolutely
/ unafraid.
! After talking with officers and men
! at the front for several days, ! am
confident that the general situation Of
the allies Is excellent. Optimism is
. evident on every hand and the one
thing which impressed me the most
was the absolute preparedness Of the
j government and the forces in the field
! to continue the combat indefinitely.
i Since quitting Paris, the correspon-
i dents and military attaches Of eight
I neutral countries have not been per-
i mitted behind the scenes. Designated
as press representative Of America, |
have been permitted to visit fields and
enter lines from which all civilians
! have heretofore been vigorously bar
red. have visited and Inspected a
revictualing station which feeds $780,
| coo soldiers. The system is perfectly
organized. This station is more like
a model Of permanent works than part
Of temporary war machine.
Great sheds are filled to the roof
with staples. There is flour, wheat,
wine, etc. The side tracks are crowd
ed with loaded cars awaiting for space
to be made for them that they may be
unIoaded.
It is General Joffre who stands
forth as tire guardian of the men Of
France. The officers Of the French
army are confident they will outlast
Germany from the standpoint of men,
despite the fact that France has a
much smaller population. They be-
Iicve this because General Joffre is a
master at conserving his troops. In
tho fighting to date, his losses have
been Infinitely inferior to Germany's.
The bearing of the French troops Is
admirable. | have yet to see dis
| nruntIed soldier. In the last four days
! Inspected several military hospitals
and talked with the wounded. Even
the most seriously injured smiled
! through their pain and said they were
! Impatient to return to the front.
| At the supply station I was even
permitted to examine the command
ants books, showing all statistics in
plain figures. And It was evident that
France is perfectly prepared in this
1 direction for protracted war.
i The countries represented by cor
respondents and military attaches on
the present trip are: Italy, Spain, Dem
mark, Switzerland. Norway, Sweden,
Holland and America.
! CONSTANT EAMMERiNe. .
/ PARIS. Nov. 1e.-With corstan.
hammering by artillery and frequent
Infantry attacks. the allies are making
! determined attack In an effort to
cut the German line Of communication
to the north of Arras. The hrunt o,
this fighting is being borne by Brit
ish troops. They are endeavoring &c
swing the allied line eastward and
force the Germans back.
j Aforementioned rumor reached here
today that the Germans have evacuat
ed Lille. That town, the report says
is now occupied by the British. There
is no confirmation of this report.
The victory In the region Of st
| MizieI In holding the western part Of
the village OF Chauvaneourt was
short lived for the French. Heavy
losses are believed to have beer sus
; taned when this part Of the village
which had been mined was blown IT
by the Germans.
Heavy connonadine continues from
Nieuport to Ypres with no change ot
note In the allied lines