The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-10-26
ARE SWEEPING
GERMANS BACK
(Continued from page

ton wrought Cy tTeuCa guns. iASl|1
aviators had established the fact that
many German batteries of the Yer
dun front consisted of a sings gun
and others of only two or three.
Since the Inauguration OF the allies
Somme offensive, the only Gerro N
reinforcements sent to that battle
field were drawn from Vercun. rus
last source Of supply has now been
cut off, in the opinion of French OH
GERS.
backed with more organization and
offensive Both offensiyes, proceed
crumple the entire German front.
Approaching verdun Sunday, on the
second day of the artillery prepare
ton, we reached Souilly. A moment
later. bugler sounded the alarm.
Two German aeroplanes, flying at in
visible attitudes, had succeeded in
crossing the French lines.
The streets were filled with girls
dressed in, white and white ribboned
boys, going to their first communion.
They scurried into cellars until
French planes appeared and drove
the Germans back over their own
lines.
Enroute from Souilly to Verdun the
roar of French artillery preparation
increased steadily. The aerial activ'
ity assumed proportions l had not
witnessed before even on the Somme
front. German anti-air craft guns
kept the entire sky throughout the
day flecked with white shrapnel and
the puffs from black, high explosive
shells, executing a veritabfe barrage
against the airmen for the double
purpose of driving them back and
obscuring their observation.
On Sunday evening the Germans
fearing an immediate attack, launch
ed a terrific barrage, using 800 guns
On Monday the French resumed Their
preparation. Al the height of the
bonn o.:rdment 400 millimeter calibre
she'll sIruck In the center of Douau
mont. The explosion was visible on
the entire front and flames burst
forth from three sides of the fort
On Monday night, French officers
reported, more than 100 Germans ant
three officers deserted and surrender
ed to the French rather than face the
] impending attack. They are said tt
have given up valuable information.
On Tuesday, the French resumed
the bombardment more violently thar
ever. Half IN hour before the at
tack was begun we visited Verdur
and were shown the operations Of
| the machinery Of the vast subterra
mean city with its water and electric
plants, bakeries, and even printing
presses operating in their usua
methodical manner. The garrison
| theatre even had performance
scheduled for that evening though al
| the soldiers knew and were elated al
| the prospect that they were about tt
begin great offensive, after eight
| months of defensive fighting.
A French general, speaking in Eng
fish, drank a toast to. America, which
ho declared to be the greatest stick
Ter for the rights Of humanity. he
proudly showed a laurel wreath sem
the heroic defenders of Verdun by
two Americans, the Baroness Murc
and Mrs Dieeenthaler, both of New
Canaan, Connecticut.
Smelling Trenches.
LONDON, Oct. 26.-The German:
heavily shelled British trenche:
north of the Somme last night be
tween Eau Court L'Abbaye and LIE:
Bouefes and also in the neighbor
hood Of Stuff and Hohenzollern re
doubts. General Haig reported thi:
afternoon.
British detachments successfully
| raided enemy trenches near MonchJ
and also northeast of Arras, doing
considerable damage and taking some
| prisoners.
Crown Prince Wins.
BERLIN, Oct. 26. (Via wireless tc
Sayville. l.. 1.-THE crown princes
troops have repulsed violent French
attacks against Fort Vaux, northeast
OF Verdun, said an official statement
this afternoon, admitting the loss Of
Fort Douaumont and the village oil
Douaumont.
Bombardment Last Night.
PARIS, Oct. 26.-Artillery bonn
bardment continued throughout last
night on the Vaux sector northeast OF
Nyorl,r hut fhn EormonS mada no