The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-02-16
t RANCE

PARIS, Feb. 16.-Heavy snows
have asain lnterfered with the fighting
In upper AIsace and In tie vosges.
The attempted German offensive 10
reported generally to nave been
checked In that region. Elsewhere
along the fighting line the exchanges
continue to be monopoIlzed by the ar
tliiery and both sides have suffered
from destroyed advance trenches. Ex-
tensive movements Of troops are re-
ported along the line Of the Aisne and
northward and It 10 believed here an
effort TO retake north Aisne, ceded to
the Germans because Of heavy floods,
will soon be undertaken. Ths Ger.
man artillery continues lts lombard.
ment Of Soissons and through the use
OF lnflamm able shells, has been able
to destroy several blocks Of ruined
buildings In the center Of tho city. At
Labassee, tho British heavy mortars
have compelled the Germans to with
draw some Of their artillery and to
replace It with pieces Of heavier cali
bro.
BRITISH ON OFFENSIVE.
[6y Henry Wood, United Press Staff
Correspondent
PARIS. Feb 16.-That the British
troops who have been essaylng tho
offensive between st. EIice and the
Ypres canal have succeeded In recap
turing two lines Of outlying trenches
previously taken from them by the
Germans In . series Of assaults, was
admitted today. It was stated at the
war office that at this point has taken
place the only infantry engagements
since Sunday. Elsewhere along the
entire battle front, the exchanges are
confined to the artillery.
The previous reports Of successes
bv tho French artillery in silencing
the Germans at several points, notably
In the Souain regions are confirmed.
Il u stated that the French artillery
is BEING used all along the entire line
to silence and dismount the big Ger
man guns.
Generally speaking the situation Is
declared to be satisfactory. >.
The Army Of Unemployed.
IIBy William Philip Simms, United
Press Stan Correspondent
~ PARIS. Feb. s.. by mail to- New
| York Mobilization Of unemployed
under the direct orders OF the minister
lof public works, is the latest plan TO,
the economic defense OF this nation
Parliament has been asked to confer
needed authority. The part that will
be played by the Industrial army, Of
ficials say. will be equal to that play.
led by the militia In defense OF the
country. Since the military estab.
tlishment OF last August, the same
economic and industrial conditions
have existed in France that have
been considered inevitable when war
devastation comes. While Paris and
all large centers are feeding thou'-
ands OF unemployed, industry and
commerce is practically dead every
where. For instance the congestion
OF the docks at Havre is so great that
many vessels lie outside, unable to be
unloaded. The plan now proposed to
parliament is to order the immediate
mobilization OF all out of works every.
where. They will be combined into q
great industrial army and the minister
OF public works will direct their activ
titles. And whether they are working
or not they will be fed and cared foz
by the government. Wherever there
/ is ground to plow, seed to SOW. mines
to be worked, ships to be unloaded
villages to be rebuilt, factories to be
recpened. the industrial army" will
essay this work 1t will be determin
ed wherever 1t is most needed and the
government will pay all Of the mcn
wages that will be an increase over
what has prevailed before the war
Aho< - ~, will xyjp IN, e
| present war and that the Germans
will never advance beyond the lines
they now hold, the government is pre-
pairing to have the entire country ir
such condition that when peace final
lly comes, the industries Of the coun
try can be continued without delay
and also maintained In such condi
! tions that soldiers can go direct from
their regiments to their old jobs.