The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-04-24
FURTHER PROGRESS
Is REPORTED
jContinued from page IL

jContinued from page IL
Samara station and vast haul of
1 supplies from the defeated Turks
was announced in an official state
ment today.
I'VE occupied Samara station early
yesterday" the statement said. our
captures include sixteen locomotives,
234 railway wagons and two barges
containing munitions.
| THE enemy casualties were
heavy"
| Samara station is sixty-five miles
northwest of Bagdad and is an im-
portant center, located on the Tigris
! river.
French Official Report.
PARIS, April 24.-General Nivelle's
troops are holding positions they
wrested from the enemy in last
weeks great offensive movement,
despite all German counter attacks.
The official statement of today
mentioned number of these Ger
man assaults designed to. shake the
French grip on their lines all OF
which were repulsed. A number OF
|
Italy Starts offensive.
| ROME. April 24.-The battle in the
Carso is becoming increasingly VOL
emit Dispatches from the front TO
day indicated a terrific fire from the
Italian artillery and enlarged on the
splendid morale of the Italian troops.
General Cadorna was quoted as eX-
pressing the utmost confidence.
| There have been several indica-
j lions recently that Italy was about
to start a great offensive in the
Carso and the dispatch above appar-
emily bears out this belief, although
the Italian censor evidently does net
permit direct statement to this ct.
feet
| Prior to the start Of the British
drive early in March, Swiss reports
declared Field Marshal Won linden
burg was massing great bodies OF
troops on the Italian front, presuin
ably preparing for a German drive,
but recently it is believed most Q:
these men have been transferred back
to the western front to aid in oppos,
| ing the Franco-British offensive.
Second Stage Of Great Push.
LONDON, April 24.-The second
stage of England's great push, now
on, is developing the fiercest fighting
of the war. Front dispatches today
emphasized the fact that the element
of surprise now no longer enters into
| the attacks of Haig's men; that the
enemy has been preparing for des-
perate defense no less than the Brit.
I ish forces during the week have been
/, planning fer overwhelming attacks.
But despite the German defense,
steady gains are being registered by
Field Marshal Haig's troops.
! The line from Op2y down through
Plouvain, Boiry, Remy and Hende'
court. on which the fighting Is now
proceeding, is preliminary to the SO
called "Wotan line" OF the linden
burg defenses. starting at Drocourt
/ and running down through Izel, Vitry,
Homblain, Eterpigny, Villers-Le'
| Gagnicourt to in front Of Queant.
| On this preliminary line the Ger
mans have changed their defense
tactics. Having seen how the terrific
British artillery fire pulyerizes care
| fully constructed trench works, the
enemy is apparently not attempting
the use Of elaborate underground sys-
items as formerly.
| Instead great numbers OF men are
scattered in irregular formation To-
Gated at natural barriers, in shell
holes, all armed with machine guns.
Meanwhile the German artillery has
all the front accurately ranged and is
able instantly to set up curtain OF
| fire against advances.
| Capture of Gavrelle, inserted a
wedge in the Oppy line, but because
! of the very nature of the new de-
| tense scheme of the German army,
sucn a penetration of the German
lines is not comparable to the smash
| ing through of permanent defense
| front.
| Dispatches received early today
/ limited at momentum being under way
| for a drive at some other point on the
4, British front than in this Lens-Dousai.
Cambria sector.
! Lens is now more than half ell.
veloped by the British advance. If
Haig chooses, he can occupy the coul
city with probably single strong
blow.
| Description Of Battle.
| [By VIM. Philip Simms, United Press
Staff Correspondent
WITH THE BRITISH ARMIES
AFIELD, April 24-Yesterday
stood from where British soldiers
! sprayed death on advancing German
hordes.
| The sole civilian present, / saw
what is one of the rarest sights of
! this ageddon-troops on both
sides maneuyering in the open
| While now and then the battle
! field was hidden under the smoke
and gasses from explosives, l saw
Guemappe taken and the ridge south
of the Cojeul river cleared of the
enemy. / saw the Germans In