The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-03-29
100, GOO AMERICANS
TO HELP ALLIES
CONTINUED from page L.

losses to which this force will be sub
jected.
It was this same problem that COM
PEELED the Germans to move back to
the Hindenhurg line last March and
thus shorten their front.
At that time, they had somewhat
less lengthy front to defend behind
Arras and Craonne than now. The
old difficulty of man power, has there
fore, been revived by Hindenburg in
an even more serious form than previ-
ously.
Won Hindehburg must now accept
the fact that the present engagements
will not result in the decisive defeat
of the Anglo-French forces. The Ger
mans, therefore, will shortly be COM
PEELED to confess that the frightening
Of their permanent front by thirty-fve
miles has not sufficiently compensat-
ing results. Thereafter. tbs possibil-
ity OF another strategic retreat back
perhaps even to the old Hindenburg
line will be the ghost at the council
table of the German general staff.
Aviator Is Killed.
PARIS. March 29-Phelps Collins.
of Detroit, Mich, one of the most
SuSSCSSAul alhCilSdA dSldtoto IA
France, was killed Wednesday Will ,
chasing a German airplane, it was an
nounced today.
While patrolling on the French
front, Collins started in pursuit of Il
German machine. A number Of enemy
aviators suddenly attacked him. He
| brought one Of them down, but his
own machine was destroyed and he
fell within the German lines.
An American Aviator.
PARIS, March 29.-Davice Putnam,
Of Brooklyn, Mass, a member of the
Lafayette escadriiie, has brought
down two more German airplanes.
making total of five, of which four
are official"
While patrolling the German lines.
Putnam was attacked by three mono
planes. After a sharp fight, he
brought one down and the others fled,
Later, Putnam was attacked by two
biplanes. He brought one Of then,
down.
Putnam was decorated with the
French war cross and promoted to
sergeant. He has not yet obtained
his transfer to the American air
forces.
Counter Drive Developing.
WASHINGTON, March 29.-The
great allied counter drive against the
German onset is now developing, high
American army officers declared to-
day. 1t may take a day CT more for
the full movement to reveal itself, IT
was added, but the troop dispositions
have been made and the great army of
maneuver is taking up its all-import-
ant task
Despite some gains made by the
Germans yesterday, the situation this
morning was regarded as favorable by.
military men here. The German adj
vance is near a standstill, although
further violent efforts to break
through the allies line are to be ex-
pected.
Army men say that now is the psy-
Geological moment to strike-when the
Germans, fatigued and checked-may
be thrown back before they can bring
up their big guns or strike a balance.
'The French attack, which regained
some ground yesterday" one expert
said today, sis probably the first phas.
of the allied operations. The French
hit at point (along the Disc river
near Noyon) where rolling up move
ment could best be launched. 1t re-
mains to be seen whether this Is to be
the allied strategy.
THE German penetration in the re-
gion Of Montdidier will be of no adj
vantage to them If the allies attack
along the southern edge of the wedge.
Rather, it will give the French a bet
ter opportunity to carry out a rolling
up process.
ut is not impossible that General
Foch will command the allied army OF
maneuver. This does not mean, how
ever, that General Foch would be
made generalissimo, but that he would
direct the movement of the mobile re-
serve as an executive appointed by
the Versailles council"
Army officers were greatly interest
ed in the report that General Pers hing
had offered all of his avaiie BILE forces
to Foch. 1t is within Persfiing's power
to make such an offer without consult
ing the war department here. No Off
cial announcement regarding the dis
position of the American forces has
been made, but officers here insist it
is possible that 100000 American
troops could be assembled for part in
the big movement
General Bliss Reports.
WASHINGTON, March 29-"The
enemy is being held at all points,
was the dispatch from General Bliss
read to the house military committee
this morning by General March
Bliss report, read before the week
ly joint war department house mill
tary conference, indicated the situa-
ton, although still grave, is gradually
assuming favorable shape for the al
lies
While the house military committee
was closeted with war chiefs at the
department the senate military com
mittee heard General J. Franklin Bell
in a sweeping analysis of conditions
in France from the great drive TO the
American expeditionary forces.
That the allies, by reason of their