The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-05-09

They paused to salute Joan Of Arc
, statue.
. DESPERATE ASSAULTS
ARE BEING MAD]
/ CONTINUED from page ~
the assaulting lines. Into them tn
British field guns and machine gun
poured typhoon of fire. The Gel
mans wavered and retired.
| At almost the same instant, tn
enemy massed for an attack nea
| Fresnoy, three miles to the north Q
the wind mill There they were dis
persed by crushing artillery fire.
British counter attacks, following
soon after and directed west Of thu
village, strengthened the British line
The fighting front now runs jus'
adjacent to the western limits Of
Fresnoy.
Throughout last night the Germans
showed the most intense nervous
ness, particularly around Bullecourt
There the Teutons' guns sprayed a
constant barrage fire in front Of the
British trenches. The enemy evil
IDENTIFY feared another attack.
The same defense artifice was util-
lied at other places on the front.
Prussian artillery was exceedingly
active during the night between the
Cojeul river and Monchy as well as
at intervals along the Scarpe river
front.
At the time this is written the
British have just succeeded in talk
ing a trench west of MalakOff farm.
Perfect weather dawned today.
making aerial observations easy.
BulIecourt May Fall Today.
LONDON, May 9.-Bullecourt, en-
circled on three sides by Australian
troops, was about to fall today TO
the British battering ram against the
,o-called German Copy line" run
aing from around Oppy to Queant.
Penetration OF German positions at
it was believed here,
would imperil the German front on
he Oppy line and possibly force
'etreat for its entire distance. In
he belief of military experts. it
night forecast abandonment to the
forth of the coal region around Lens.
The Bullecourt operations were
leld today to be of more Importance
han those around Fresnoy. Recap
ure of the city by the Germans, how
yer, is a set back to the British
i'm it circling the end of the Oppy.
'ront dispatches today indicated the
ssue at Fresnoy had by no means
cen decided, however.
RrifiSh frnnnc oro ~
iolent artillery fire and repeated in
antry assaults to shake the German |
rip on the village.
Germans Still Hold Fresnoy.
LONDON, May 9.-Some of the
round around Fresnoy which British !
oops were compelled to yield yester-
~ morning to tremendous German
.tacks. was won back by Haig's men
day.
around Fresnoy, hostile forces +
for an attack to the
orth were dispersed by our artillery"
lie British commander in chief re- |,
,rted.
ITO the west We improved our pest
ons and night counter attack re-
Lned US portion Of the ground lost
morning.
"At night slightly northeast of Har. i
court, we advanced our POSITIONS" ,
e report continued. Northeast OF I
lyrelle village yesterday evening, !
g enemy attacked, but was broken
} by our barrage and machine gun
e, being completely repulsed.
East OF Armentieres early this ,
orning, an enemy raiding party was :.
iven on"
Tide Of Battle Swings. =
May 9.-The tide OF bat r
about Fresnoy was swinging in d
vor Of the British today. Elected
I'm the village by superior weight Of IN
rman counter attacks, made with n
ssh divisions yesterday, Field Mar ! I,
al Haig aligned his forces anew o
rly today and threw them into new q
d furiously persistent fighting
ere
At the time of his early afternoon
port, he detailed recapture of por- !,
n of the ground taken by the Ger -
ms, and an improvement of the
itish position to the west of the
yn. y
~N~s~A NN-S ~ ASs'S, 1c"SSOAS llOI
retrieved and the temporary Ger
n gain, until Offset, will admittedly !"
nper further operations in the turn - :,
Of the Oppy line. v
The fighting around Fresnoy now ~
Is a struggle Of mighty
ces on either side. The Germans
determined to hold the position,
owing the British objective, and the RI
fish are determined to carry
ough their plans. Front dispatches
ated the Strengthening Of the Ger.
n line here with prodigal massing Is,
German reserves The German ar ;.
cry is pouring a flood Of shells over ~
British positions. n,
he British artillery is endlessly K
tering away at the enemy W
he fighting is for the most part in q,
yes Of small sections Of troops who | 81
h frward, are met by German de-
hments and who clinch in hand to d,
d fighting. Positions are advanc- M