The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-05-24

gun at 4:S0 o'clock on the morning
/ OF March 81, while the troops that
were to be engaged in the attach
were still on the march towards the
| front. Following an extremely IN
tense and violent artillery 2repara'
ton. including barrages in which q
large proportion of gas shells was
used. dense concentrated fires on the
enemy's battery zone, and heavy Ire
on all the routes leading up to the
English front and the zones IN the
rear. the first progression of infantry
was made at 9:45 on the morning OF
March 81. The infantry leaped from
the trenches in several successive
waves. the first wave being ordered
to attain its objective absolutely re-
CARELESS OF loss, and without stop
ping to wipe out machine gun nests
or centers of resistance in It's rear.
AS soon as the infantry was lnstaiieu
ON the objective assigned 10 IT, II
had orders to open a barrage Win
machine guns and rifles at distance
of 1900 yards ahead, with degree
of intensity calculated to paralyze the
enemy and wipe out its reserves. The
second wave of assault in the mean
time was to dash over the heads OF
the first wave for the conquest OF the
second objective. This method was
to be continued Indefinitely. the ad.
yancing troops being accompanied
by light artillery and mounted trench
mortars-
Formation Of German Battle Front.
For the purpose of producing an
absolutely irresistible shock that
would carry them through the enemys
lines and permit them to engage IN
a big open, decisive battle in the rea-,
the Germans employed a density OF
troops, not only facing the enemy, out
extending to a degree of depth rear
wards never before attained. OF the
fifty divisions engaged, each attack
ed on a front of one mile usually
with three regiments of men massed
elbow to elbow, although in some
cases only two regiments were IN
the front line, with one regiment IN
the rear. Each division was sustained
by its own artillery, consisting or
twelve batteries of field guns and SIX
batteries of heavy artillery of 21o-
millimeter calibre. Each regiment
usually fought with its three bat
talions placed one behind the other.
Each battalion had likewise mas
sive depth formation. the first wave
consisting of two companies with SIX
light machine guns; the second wave
at 100 yards behind being supported
by heavy machine guns; while the
third wave at 200 to 800 yards in the
rear, was supported by mounted
trench mortars. The mounted trench
mortars were apparently designed
for fighting the tanks, by shooting
torpedoes directly into them. The
troops carried with them six days
provisions.
German Losses.
From the very moment of the at
tack, the Germans sustained losses
that obliged them to recognize in
their official communiQue of March
%, that our losses have remained
within normal limit. In certain places
where particularly violent combats
have taken place, our losses have
been heavier" From prisoners and
other sources it has been established.
as examples of the German losses,
that by March %, the electives OF
the first division of the PruSslan
Guard had been reduced to an aver
age of forty men per company. The
sd division at that date had lost 500
men The 45th reserve division had
lost forty per cent. The LIST reserve
division of the Guard lost thirty-two
officers. The I'd battalion of the
234th division was completely annihl-
lated at Boisleux- Saint-Marc. The LIST
battalion of the 140th division was re-
duced the first day TO ninety-four
men fifteen under officers and three
officers Similar figures have been
officially established for scores OF
other units engaged.
First Day of the Battle.
Following a bombardment which
began at 4:3o on the morning Of
March q, the Germans leaped to the
assault at 9:45, their double attack
extending over front OF eighty kill
ometers. between the Disc, near La
Fere. and the Sensee near Croisilles-
On the front thus attacked, the Brit
ish had two armies, the northern be-
ing the Third, under General Byng,
and the southern being the Fifth, I'M
der General Cough. The progression
of the joint attack was unequal,
Byngs army succeeding in sustain
ing the shock, while Coughs army
was thrown back on the Crozat canal,
between, Saint Simon and Tergnier,
which was captured by the Germans.
Morning Of the Second Day.
Following Che initial success, the
Germans remained quiet during the
night of the 21st, while reinforcing
their divisions and preparing their
second attack against points in the
British line. which had shown weak
ness. The battle was resumed on the
morning OF the 22nd, In the presence
of the kaiser himself This time Won
Bellows army to the north met with
a greater degree of success, captur-
ing the heights about Croislles, pene-
trating into the British second posi-
ton. while in 1iaison with Won der
Marwitz's army at its left, the Brit
ish second and third positions were
..-,E,ad .brof,ph faptrIre of GOuZp-