The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-08-15
ADVANCES ARE
MADE BY ALLIES
Continued from page ID

Marshal Haig struck again at the
German lines This time the blow
fell against the approaches OF the
coal city. instead Of in Flanders.
Everything was carried before the
force OF the irresistible push. The OBJ
iectives fixed for the day were taken
in the first rush, and then came the
work OF consolidating positions. Sew
eral hundred prisoners had been TAX
en- up to an early hour today, and
more were pouring back from the
fighting zone
The attack which swept the Can
adams forward until they held the
last positions dominating the ap-
proaches to Lens. was a typical BRIT
fish push.
There was the usual hush before
the battle. After the night OF artil-
1erv engagements, a death-like silence
fell. Then came the drum fire, the
roar of guns, the screechiug of shells
and the flare of rockets behind the
German lines in rapid signalling.
The sun was just rising, streaking
the sky with a wondrous tint. The
British barrage was under way. A
curtain of steel was falling between
the Canadian trenches and the enemy.
Then the Canadians went over
their parapets. They followed their
curtain of steel and flame across the
open ground.
German rockets, carrying their
"sos" signals began bursting more
riotously But from the first, every
thing went we'll with the British.
Their bombing, their bayoneting and
other work complete, they looked
down upon Lens, complete masters
of it's gateways.
ICfte ST Laurent, mentioned by
Simms as captured by the Canadians
Is only about mile north OF the
main section of Lens, between the
coal city and L4oos Other points
captured by the Canadians are in the
same region.l
Germans Swept From Hill.
HBy VIM. Philip simms. United Press
E.4 Staff Correspondent
WITH THE BRITISH ARMIES IN
THE FIELD Aug. 15.--The Canadi
ans today stormed positions dominat
ing the remaining approaches to the
coal city of Lens, which were still
held by the Germans. The German:
were swept from Hill 70 by tbs
Canadian assault. and were also
driven from neighboring positions.
Several hundred prisoners have
been taken by the Canadians at tbs
time of the filing OF this dispatch
and fighting is still in progress.
= TThe victorious assault OF the
Canadians today brings the fall o
Lens appreciably nearer. For the
past week the Canadians have beer
closing in on Lens yard by yard. The
city is now surrounded by the British
on three sides. They were within
striking distance of the main part o.
the town before today's attack was
made.
The dispatch from VIM. PhiliI
Simms at the front. stating that the
Canadians now control all dominat
ing positions to the approaches Of the
city which were held by the Ger
mans IS significant. Complete com
mand of the approaches to Lens, en-
aiding the British to bring up sup
plies munitions and artillery without
Interference, may be a fOrerunner OF
the evacuation of the city without
further serious resistance. Portions
Of Lens have already been burned by
The Germans in preparation for such
move.
Occupation OF Lens VIII open great
roal deposits to the French.
The immediate value of the mines
however. Will depend on the extent
Of damage done to them by the Ger.
mans.
Evacuation of the city by the Ger.
mans will come, probably. only in
case of extreme necessity-such as
complete domination of the town by
the British would suggest. Repeated
attempts have been made by the