The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-04-18
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TEUTON IN FACE
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the whole front. There was no change
in the British front during the night"
The Germans again are in poses
sion of Wytschaete and Meteren, II
is admitted In Field Marshal Haigs
night official report
The British recaptured these vii
lagos in counter attacks yesterday,
morning. but were compelled to evac-
uate them again in the face OF con-
tinued enemy assaults. The French
are cooperating with the British on
this front, Haig said.
In the retirement east OF Ypres,
the British abandoned Passchendale.
PoelcapeIle and Langemarck, 1t Is
claimed by the German war office.
A Belgian communique said that
between LeBlankaert and the Ypres-
Thourout railway "a front OF about
five miles just north OF the Passchen-
daele salient) a massed German at
tack gained a temporary advantage.
but that counter assault restored
the positions and resulted in the cap
ture OF 500 prisoners
Continued enemy bombardment
north Of Montdidier was reported in
the French night communiQue. The
French laid down a counter bonn
bardment
There was hostile artillerying on
the Lys battlefront, from Givenchy
to eastward Of Robecq, continuing I'M
til dawn between LOGON and RobecQ.
Local attacks in the Merris sector
yesterday evening were repulsed.
More detailed reports Of the fight
ing yesterday in Nieppe forest and
on the Wytchaete front established
the severity of the enemy's losses"
Every Inch Of Line Pounded.
by Henry Wood, United Press Stan
Correspondent
WITH THE FRENCH ARMIES IN
THE FIELD, April 17-tnight)-Ev-
cry inch of the German lines from
south of the Somme to the Oise-a
front of ninety kiIometers $3.50
miles)-is being pounded by the vast
est artillery concentration yet attained
by the allies. Even the country for
miles to the rear Of the enemy posi-
tons, is under bombardment.
Prisoners say the cannonading in
addition to preventing the digging OF a
single trench is infiicting the heaviest
losses.
The offensive has reached a stage
where allied military otncials declare
unanimously that the present battle is
absolutely and irrevocably decisive for
Germany. With the allies present GER
tainty of checking the German often
sive, coupled with the known German
losses, the Germans at the battles end
will be exhausted and incapable of Sc
ricusly attempting another offensive.
Instead, they will have to remain On
the defensive, constantly threatened
by internal upheavals, while Ameri-
can arrivals swell the superiority OF
the allies.
French military officials declare the
French army is capable of waiting
eighteen months If necessary, to at
tain a crushing superiority. But with
the Americans maintaining or increas-
ing their presenc rate of arrivals, the
final military victory is possible much
sooner.
! French Take Prisoners.
PARIS. April ia strong en-
! envy attack in the region of Corbeny
| (on the Chernin Des Danes sector),
following heavy artillery preparation,
was caught under our fire and dis
| persed," the French war office an
nounced today.
East OF Caurieres wood toward
tDamloup least Of Verdun), an en-
J envy surprise attack was repulsed and
| prisoners taken.
I'VE conducted q eucca..e,,r -,