The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-08-12

which British light naval forces and
aircraft engaged German aircraft. the
admiralty announced today.
1 "a German airship was brought
down in flames north of Ameland Ian
, island in the North sea four miles OH
the Dutch COAST" the statement said.
. British light forces with aircraft
accompanying accommodated the west
; Tristan coast yesterday morning.
German aircraft attacked them. Six
motor boats are missing"
Battle Slows Down.
[By William Philip Simms, United
Press Staff CORRESPONDENCE
i WITH THE BRITISH ARMIES IN
FRANCE, Aug. 12-(11:17 a. m.)-
The battle has gradually slowed down
In the past twenty-four hours.
Won Ludendorff's reserves have
been massed in front of the key posi-
tions and have attempted counter
attacks, without success.
/ Tho allies arc maintaining their
gains throughout the whole line.
| Eighty Battle Planes Destroyed.
[ LONDON, Aug. 12.-Destruction OF
eighty German battle planes and the
| pTOCaUlo lOSS VI OeA0A %
which are reported driven down out
of control. was claimed today in the
official communiQue issued by the
British air ministry. The failure Of
thirty-five British airplanes to report
to their base also is noted. Desruc-
! ton of the eighty German planes oc-
Cured August 8 and 10.
! Intense air fighting has been In
progress over the battle area, the
communicate stated. Ton after ton Of
bombs has been dropped by the Brit
/ ish air forces, principally upon
bridges and stations in the Somme
valley. All records for use Of small
arms ammunition In firing upon
troops from airplanes, have been
broken
In addition to the battle planes re-
ported destroyed, the communtque
claimed the destruction of two hos
tile bombing machines, one OF which
was a huge airplane, carrying FIVE en-
gines, laden with many bombs. Two
enemy machines have been brought
down by antiaircraft guns. One Brit
ish machine previously reported miss
ling has returned.
Advance Continued.
! LONDON, Aug. 12.-British troops.
continuing their advance, have pro-
crossed to within less than four miles
of Roye, capturing Armancourt and
( Tilloloy, the British war office an
nounced today.
! Additional progress was made
astride the Somme, when the lines
were joined east Of Mer1court and
Etinehem New counter attacks In
| the center south of Lihons were re-
pulsed.
Yesterday evening the enemy
again attacked our positions south OF
Lihons but was repulsed," the state
ment said.
"As the result Of successful oper-
alton, we carried out Immediately
south OF the Somme, we captured
over 200 prisoners and linked up our
positions east of Mericourt with the
line east of Etfnehem on the north
bank of the river.
! ION the right of the fourth British
army, the allies progressed yester
day afternoon in the direction OF
Roye, capturing the villages OF Ar
mancourt and Tilloloy.
'In the northern portion Of the
British front, we effected local i'm.
provements east Of Robecq and be
tween vieux-Berquin and Merris Gall
in Flanders"
ALLIES Take Bray.
! LONDON, Aug. 12.-Q:50 p. ny
Allied troops have taken the western
edge Of Bray, it was learned this
afternoon.
(Bray is FIVE miles southeast of Al
bert, and is the most important point
on the Somme, west Of Peronne
Americans and British forces were
reported approaching Bray last
mighty
The Germans are reported to be
heavily counter attacking in front OF
Roye The French. however, have
iL'Echelle (three miles west Of Royce
The French have made a further
advance on an eighteen mile front
between the Avre and the Disc, while
the situation between Roye and the
ISomme has become more stabilized
ance.
The British have taken Lihones
(They previously were reported tc
have captured the city, but evidently
were driven out in the German coun
ter attack there.)
Reports that Chaulnes and Roye
, haxe been captured are incorrect
He's Learning.
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY
ON THE vESLE, Aug. ia Ger
, man prisoner, routed out from behind
a wall, donned Red Cross brassard
and helped to carry in American
wounded.
!; While he was thus engaged, Ger
man Shippers shot at him. He got sc
mad he grabbed a captured machine
gun and fired on positions where he
knew the snipers were lurking, drop
ping two Boche snipers out of tree
Slow Up But Not Stopped.
[By Lowell Mellett, United Press
Staff Correspondent
WITH THE FRENCH ARMIES IN
THE FIELD, Aug. 12-G2:40 a. m.)
German reserves rushed into &C
tion martial reorganization of the de