The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-04-19

III IeScu1uS party "AoSo 0oSS~s
was hit by a gas shell.
There was active artillery fire on
this American sector today. but no
infantry action.
Gallant British Defense.
WASHINGTON, April 10. - The
French are striving hard to relieve
the terrible pressure on their British
comrades in arms to the north.
Military men saw this in the latest
French moves in the Amiens sector,
but up to early today this had not
developed sufficiently to make rad
| ical change.
With the French battling shoulder
| to shoulder with the British in the
north, other French forces in the
Avre region have succeeded in a
counter attack. United Press mes
sages from Henry Wood yesterday,
detailing the artillry struggle. 1ndi-
Gated the French were testing out the
| lines for a weak spot while today's
news indicated they had succeeded in
| small way against the enemy.
The British defense to date is con-
sidered one of the most stubborn and
gallant in all history.
Entente officials here said frankly
today that had the British not stood
and died at critical times, the strug-
gle might have ended ere now in
Teuton victory The British, they
said. had yielded only where further
sacrifice of life would have netted
little.
Literally they have died to the last
man at many points to stem the
! Teuton.
The German has sacrificed heavily
in his onslaughts. Military men estf-
mate that 100000 to 100000 Teuton
casualties have resulted thus far.
The British losses. too, are heavy.
Military men find some satisfac-
ton in the fact that the British have
held well for two days and there is
hope now that the French will be
able to create diversion in the
southern end of the line.
Secretary of War Bakers letter
to General Pershing, promising speed
ing OF troops, presages continuance
of the policy of getting over all pos
sible men in the shortest possible
time by acquiring added shipping.
Allied sources explained today that
at various times in the past few
months the western demands had re
CURED priority OF food. then OF ma
terial, but that now men must and
do have the priority
Press dispatches quoting German
Naval Minister Won Capelle on the
submarine situation showed that Ger
many is belittling and underestimate
ing American power as to troop sup
ply and deliberately misinfor1ning the
German people as to the facts which
they must face.
Aniens Has Been Saved.
[By J. w. T. Mason, United Press War
Expert
NEW YORK, April 19.-Participa-
ton of French troops with the british
in the fighting before Ypres and Haze
brouck does not mean that General
Foch is throwing his reserves into
action before a major counter often
sive.
The assistance OF the French in the
northern part Of the battle front is
doubtless strictly limited. Instead of
being taken from the army of maneu-
vers," these troops may even have
been removed from other parts OF the
line where the German positions are
weakly held To keep intact the
army of maneuvers" for action after
the Germans have exhausted them
selves is so important that 1t Is prob
able General FQCH Is ItSlStihS Ill III
cal Meas for use of the army to stem
tie German assault.
Maintenance OF the morale OF the
troops in the field and Of the civilians
at home IS necessary If General Foch's
plans for saving his army of maneu-
yer" for offensive purposes at a later
time are to continue. The losses suf-
fered by the defenders Of the Ypres-
Hazebrouck front are undoubtedly Sc
we're. though not nearly as heavy as
the German casualties. 1t is part OF
the game of high strategy that General
Foch seems to be playing, however, to
permit these losses to continue as
long as Hindenburg wants to keep up
hie self destructive assaults.
There is no doubt of General Focf's
ability to stop the German attacks
along the Ypres-Hazebrouck line by
throwing into that sector several
corns O, fresh troops. General Foch
has the necessary number Of men. but
n this were done. Hindenburg might