The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-07-05
United Press
War Summary
LUnfted Press Leased Wire Service

lUn1ted Press Leased Wire Service
1,433rd day Of the war.
P1cardy front-The Germans last
night failed TN an attempt to retake
Hamel south Of the Somme which was
captured by Australian and American
troops yesterday morning. The numb
er OF prisoners taken in yesterdays
operations on both sides OF the
Somme IS now officially placed at
more than 1900.
Ofse, Champagne and Verdun fronts
French patrols brought Tn Prison
ers.
Vosges front-A small German raid
preceded by a bonn bardment was re-
pulsed by American troops Wednesday
morning.
Other American fronts between
Toul and Swiss border-C Comparative
" quiet yesterday.
italian hont-The Italian advances
on the lower Pave yesterday were
preceded by one of the heaviest bonn
ltbardments Of the present campaign.
The Italians used fire boats to de-
stroy small Austrian bridges.
Germany-Acording to an AmsteF-
dam report Germany is about to ask
the allies to enter a mutual agree
ment to refrain from bombing towns
outside the war zone This action un-
doubtedly IS the result Of allied raids
on various German cities, particularly
In the Rhine provinces. The memory
Of Germany's duplicity on Corpus
Christi day probably will prevent the
allies even considering such a propos-
al from Germany.
Russia-Foreign Minister Tchitct-
erin has protested to Berlin against
the German advance beyond the neu-
trail zone fixed by the Brest-LitovsK
treaty, and German participation in
Cossack raids.
Ireland-All meetings and process
sfons have been prohibited in Ireland
except those authorized by British Of
ficials-
Mason's Daily Opinion.
IBy ]. w. I. Mason, United Press
War Expert1
NEW YORK. July 5--Von linden
burg's delay in starting new often
sive along the west front Is strongly
indicative of a new lack of confidence
at the katser's headquarters In the
ability of the German army to win de-
cisiye results on the battle field.
flueuces at work trying to persuade
the kaiser not to permit Hindenburg
to continue his policy of ruthlessly
slaughtering Germany's man power
for chimerical results. A definite ac-
ceptance by the Germans of defen-
sive role is undoubtedly under dis
cussion at general headquarters.
Whether this REIMBURSEMENT of the
initiative shall be acknowledged at
once, or only after another futile ef-
fort to break through the allies front
| is a matter which the kaiser must
quickly decide.
He has refused his consent, at least
to an impetuous offensive under
taken like the latest German drives,
without due strategic forethought This
much is known from the exceptional
long interval which has passed since
| the beginning of the fourth offensive.
Between the commencement of the
first and second German offensives
, this year, there was a period of nine
! teen days: between the starts of the
second and third offensiveS eighteen
days and between the openings OF
the third and fourth offensives be-
gan, and no signs are yet in evidence
| that q fifth is in immediate prepara-
| ton.
This means that Hindenburg has
at the very least acknowledged his
previous tactics of hurried drives
were wrong. 1t may further mean
that the arrival of Americas first
million in France has exercised de
cisive influence on the side Of the con
servative military leaders and that
authority has been taken from Hin
tdenburg to sacrifice German armies
at his own bloodthirsty will
| If Hindenburg ever intends tc
strike again he cannot afford tc
wait until many more American
tnoons enter the trenches against him
Secretary Bakers announcement
of the dispatch of fifty
thousand weekly are being sent
1t may well be that this fact viii
make Hindeaburgs present pause
ipermanent