The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-04-21
STRATEGY OF
FRENCH OFFENSIVE
CONTINUED from page -

are likely to undergo notifications
with the possibility always OF grea
extension of the front.
Today the battle Is raging every
| where along the three divisions witt
incredible fury. The great struggls
sub-divides itself into numerous
smaller engagements. They may
seem meaningless, little or bic
! clashes-but everyone of them teno
| to a common objective fixed long be
| fore hand
| Scarcely an hour of the day or
night does not witness at some point
either. an attack or the repulse OF 4
counter attack They are always In
dicated by a sudden rise to terrific
intensity Of ceaseless artillery roll
along fronts of one, two, three OF
more miles.
Although these battles are furious
in their intensity, only the artillery
is usually visible as the sign of the
conflict--because the infantry fights
it's way under the cover OF forests,
ravines, and valleys, or slips through
former German trenches.
The ability of the French to bonl-
bard without limit any point at any
time is what permits the absolute
certainty Of an advance. Such a con-
centration Of fire as the French pour
in where they want it, completely
wipes out every defensive device
known to German genius or construct
ed by German labor since 1914.
But if the actual fighting battle
front does not reveal the presence Of
troops, Immediately to the rear there
is everywhere visible titanic con-
centration of men, munitions and ma
terial. The valleys, woods and ra-
vines are filled with cavalry, infantry,
hitched batteries, munition trains,
trucks, cannon-all eth
er advancing or awaiting the word TO
dash to the front. There is forward
everywhere.
French Official Report.
PARIS, April 21.-More ground was
gained by French attacks north of
Rheims today while General Nivelle's
'orces beat back German attacks upon
he positions around Mont Haul which
we're wrested from the enemy few
lays ago.
The French official statement, an
these details Of the past
wenty-four hours fighting, declared
leavy losses had been inflicted upon
Germans in the Mont Haul repulse.
Artillery was active during the night |
forth of the Aisne in the region OF
Sanuil La Fosse and Hautebise," the |
tatement said. "Cannonading was
violent east Of Craonne |
md north of Rheims.
French forces gained ground in |
,renade fighting south Of Juvincourt |
nd east of Courcy.'
[Juvincourt lies five miles due east |
# Craonne and about fifteen miles
northeast of Rheims. Courcy is five
niles northwest of Rheims.1
"a German attack on Mont Haut |
vas repulsed with losses to the enemy. |
French attachments raided Ger
nan lines west of Maison De Cham
,agne, imprisoning forty Germans"
Advance Of More Than Mile.
LONDON, April 21.-FieId Marshal
Iaig smashed another blow at Cam
raj today-and advanced more than
mile toward that stronghold of the
Iindenburg line.
His capture of Councillor was an
lounced in an official statement to-
lay.
The British commander in chief re-
ported sharp fighting in this drive.
lie likewise detailed repulse of a
German attack delivered at Fauquis-
art and considerable artillery firing
it number of places along the
ront,
With the capture of Gonnelieu,
iaigs steel line paralleling the Cam
orat+St. Quentin highway had been
showed one mile closer to Cambria,
md a driving angle for blow on that /
,ity formed, reaching from Havrin.
court and Villers Plouich to Con
,.lieu on the north. to Villers-Guis-
ain and Ephey on the south.
During the night we captured Con
lelieu after sharp fighting, taking a
number OF prisoners" the report said
An enemy party attempted to enter
,ur trenches in the neighborhood Of
but were repulseu.
Artillerying was active at a number
# places during the night"
Todays' War Map.
By Perry Arnold. United Press For
eign Editor.]
NEW YORK, April ,21.-While Off
ial statements continued to relate
he continued forward sweep of the
armies, interest CEN
cred today on unofficial reports indi-
ating widespread unrest and grave
isorders in Germany and Austro-
hungary.
Berlin official statements denied
ny rioting and persisted in asserting I.
hat the general strike, called six /,
avs ago, in protest against the reduc- /,
ion of the bread ration and in gen. :