The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-03-26
FIGHTING NOT so
FIERCE TODAY
IContin,,ed fror> ma e
greater, in cooperation with the al
lied defense in France.

|
greater. in cooperation with the al
lied defense in France.
! 1.-THE cable would indicate that the
Italians have begun a demonstration
, in their theatre either to prevent
. further withdrawal of Austrian forces
for use on the west front, or in the
hope of compelling Hindenburg to
use a portion of his reserves In
Italy.]
Over Bones of Comrades.
[By William Philip Simms, United
Press Staff Correspondent
WITH THE BRITISH ARMIES IN
THE FIELD, March 25.-When Gen
eral Won Bellows men crossed the
Somme south Of Peronne, the battle
RECOMMENDED on the vast, war
wrought desert over which the half
maddened Germans were driven
year ago along the line.
There are no trees, no houses in
this region, which is shell-pitted for
miles. Then the Germans were I'M
able to bury their dead. They are
now fighting over their comrades
bones.
slowly driving forward against the
battering of the British guns. Their
reinforcements are coming up from
all parts of the lines. Prisoners say
these reinforcements include re-
serves from Flanders, Laon, Rheims
and Verdun.
Hindenburg is sparing no lives.
The kaiser is putting all in the melt
ing pot.
: Monday night finds the Tommies
cheerful throughout the front. Their
spirit is unbroken. / saw them play
ing football within ordinary gun
range.
These were reserved awaiting
orders.
Civilian refugees, refusing to allow
themselves to be captured, are TAX
ing their lot stoically.
+ The British troops are sticking to
their positions to the last man
against tremendous odds. falling
back in good order when their thin
line finally cedes this or that point.
/ Six AirpIanes Brought Down.
ROME, March 26-The usual artil'
lerying was reported everywhere
along the front with moderate recon
planes were brought down.
Noyon Evacuated.
PARIS, March 26.-Noyon was
evacuated during the night, the
French war office reported today. The
retirement was made in excellent
order
The French are holding solidly on
the left bank Of the Disc.
Noyon is about twenty miles west
and south of Lafere, which marked
the line before the German advance
started.
| Admit Great Losses.
COPENHAGEN, March 26.-The
front correspondent of the Berlin
Vorwaerts declares the German
losses, while great, are smaller than
were expected, according to advices
received here today. He reports the
use OF "sturwagen" (evidently Ger
man tanks in great numbers.
He also mentions the kaiser as
being in st. Quentin and declares
the German ruler is working early
and late"
Berlin was decorated with flags
Monday and church bells were rung.
while the German Catholics arranged
a special day OF prayer, according TO
the advices.
German correspondents report tho
capture of six British tanks.
1.-THE kaiser and Hindenburg were
last reported in Peronne in official
dispatched
Sixth Day Of Battle.
by William Philip Simms, United
Press Staff Correspondent
WITH THE BRITISH ARMIES IN
THE FIELD, March 26-The sixth
day of the monster battle finds the
British and Germans fighting like
tigers across the famous Pozieres
ridge. which Hafg wrested from Hin
denburg in the fall of 1916.
Furious fighting continues, the
enemy throwing masses in the direc-
ton of Albert from the high ground
around Montauban. Here the Brit
ish, in machine gun positions, are
resisting stubbornly.
The Germans also are thrusting
westward from Nesle, attempting to
drive wedge there. But their pro-
gress continues slow.
The allied resistance is daily stiff
fleming The enemy is violently en-
deavoring to break through at three
points-south Of Arras toward Albert
and toward Noyon. Each sector is
the scene of the heaviest fighting,
night and day.
The Germans were reported today
along a line through Logeast wood,
LignyThillery and Montauban, fight
I ing madly toward the valley of the
bloody Ancre.
The weather continues fine, favor
ing the Germans. For a few hours
this afternoon the barometer fell and
clouds came up. but the wind veered
to the north, clearing up the sky.
The airmen are profiting, however,
by both the sunshine and STARLIGHT