Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-03-11
Capture Neuve Chappelle
From Germans by Sur
prise Attack.
STRATEGIC GAIN
FOR ALLIED ARMY
Captured Position Commands Roads
Between LaBassse and Lille, and
Makes German Hold on Former Place
lnseeurs-Germans Claim Russian at
tempt to Penetrate Teuton Lines at
Augusta Fail.

London, March 11.-Under cover of
the fire of heavy French artillery, Brit
ish troops have captured Neuv~ Chap
pelle three and half miles north of
LaBassee.
This success. including the taking of
1000 prisoners and several machine
guns, makes it the most considerable
advance reported from northern France
in several months. The position COM
mands the roads between LaBassee and
Lille. Furthermore it makes the Ger
man hold on LaBassee insecure and
gives a base for operations for the
Strengthening of the allied lines in front
of Lille
The movement was unexpected as
lately the principal activity reported on
the British front has been from the
other end of the line near Ypres.
Hu.s;snses.=..MetFeil..
News dispatches reaching here from
Berlin report the failure Of the Russian
attempt to break thru the German lines
at Augusta. while the battle of Ostro-
lenko continues. According to this in
formation, which Is from official
sources. the fighting to the west and
northwest Of Prasynsz Is developing
favorably for the Germans.
The British admiralty continues
silent concerning the operation in the
Dardanelles. Reports from France,
however, say that armored French ves-
sells have penetrated to the narrows of
the straits. 1t is not considered likely.
however. that the movement will be
continued until the last forces are pre-
pared for action.
British forces in France advanced
three-quarters of mile yesterday,
capturing all the intervening positions
Of the enemy, according to an official
announcement given out here today.
German Ranks Not Dspieted.,
The official military observers at the
British headquarters in the field say
there was no truth in statements that
the German ranks in the west had been
depleted generally.
1.-THE plain truth is that, altho the
enemy's electives in the west are much
reduced and ours increased. he still Is
holding an enormous extent of front in
addition to carrying out operations on a
huge scale in the east" the report says.
mo signs of weakening are yet visible
in the morale of the German troops as
whole. There is no evidence as yet
why determined and we'll organized
army like that of the Germans should
feel discouraged"
by reason of the news given to the
Germans" the report continues, their
enemy appears to them to be EXHAUSTED
and engaged in last despairing effort
to delay the inevitable decision.
Soldiers Are Confident.
mo doubt economics and other fac
tors have had a great effect on the
civilian population of Germany and
there is marked difference between
the expectations with which they en-
tered upon the war and those they now
cherish, but it Is impossible to say that
either they or the army have lost def
nate confidence in the ultimate success
of their cause. The morale Of the
troops will only be shaken by con-
sciousness Of crushing defeat but this
can only be obtained by ever increas-
ing pressure Of vast numbers OF men
and guns in the coming months.
THE kaiser can choose at will a
Russian, Belgian or French town in
which to make a triumphal entry at
any time to cheer his troops