The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-10-17

which resulted in capture OF Mes
sinez by the British last June.
During the engagements OF the
week the French everywhere maln-
tanned the positions won In the race
of repeated onslaughts.
STRONG German detachments were
ordered to dislodge the French, VINO
now hold the advance positions be-
tween the Victoire and Pategout
farms. east of Draebank. These were
repulsed.
''As was to be expected at this
season, bad weather has somewhat
retarded the allied advance.
Operations were hampered owing
To the fact that the well drained
ground of the Passchendaele ridge
once passed over, the advancing
columns are confronted with the
water logged, soggy Flanders plain.
which stretches on to Roulers and
beyond.
1.-THE infantry was further impeded
by the fact that allied. artillery prep
aration has so plowed up the ground
that the terrain has been tuned into
a sea of mud.
"Torrential rains and lowlying
clouds rendered air craft observation
difficult and under ordinary circum-
stances would have caused suspen-
sion of offensive operation, but the
Indictment weather has not prevented
extension and consolidation of allied
gains during the week.
"The enemy as usual counter at
tackled in force. His efforts to re-
take the positions captured by the
allies eventually failed.
THE Germans, fearing lest the
allied advance in Flanders would be
followed by a similar effort along
other sectors of the front particu-
larly north of Verdun endeavored to
thwart allied plans by launching
powerful attack, preceded by the
usual intensive artillery preparation
in this sector.
THE enemy was able to gain a
temporary foothold in certain adj
vance French lines. Latest advices
show that he was driven out after
some hot fighting. 1t must be re-
membered that il a commander is
willing to pay the price in lives of
his men as we'll as in an overwhelm.
ing expenditure Of munitions, he is
invariably able to score local sue
cess. This the Germans gained in
their assault on French positions
along the right bank Of the Mouse,
in the region north of Hill 344.
"The success Of the enemy was,
however, more shortlived than was
to be anticipated when it's cost is
taken into consideration for not only
did the French regain the positions,
but they are now holding their posi-
tions against exceedingly heavy
enemy pressure, at the same time
successfully carrying on their often
sive in Flanders, as well as raiding
the enemy's lines at other points.
along the northern sector Of the
eastern front, artillery duels are re-
ported.
"In the vicinity Of Riga the enemy
after an intensive bombardment of
Russian lines south of Pskoff road,
succeeded in temporarily pressing
back Russian advance detachm ents.
"The growing intensity Of artillery
fire in the neighborhood of Jacob
stadt would seem to Indicate that
the Germans are contemplating ac-
ton Of some magnitude across
Dwina.
"At the Roumanian front the enc
my attacked in force and gained a
foothold in the allied line from which
he was, however, dislodged.
Relative quiet reigns along the
italian front.
IN the Val di Daone region, Aus
trians launched an unsuccessful at
tack.
winter conditions now prevail in
the Alpine battle zone, rendering
important operations impossible"
Girls Join Strike.