The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-08-20
all the more interesting In view OF the
present German army order regard
ing the necessity for secrecy.

i ing the necessity for secrecy.
/ Village Of vassens.
| PARIS, Aug. 20.-French troops ad-
vanced further between the Disc and
the Aisne last night. capturing the vii
lage of Vassens, the war office an
nounced today. Artillery fighting on
the six mile front between Lassfgny
and Dreslincourt was reported. In the
Lassigny and Dreslincourt region
there was artillery fighting" the COM
ntuniQue said.
Northwest of Marsai the French
occupied Vassens.
West Of Maison-De-C Champagne, a
German raid was unsuccessful.
| An air raid on Nance Oorraine)
resulted in some Victims"
Planned Siege Of Paris.
| PARIS, Aug. 2O.-The Germans
when they started their last offensive
operation, were prepared for siege
of Paris from range Of twenty-five
miles, the Petit Parisien declared to-
day.
A number of sixty-foot guns. firing
shells weighing three quarters of
ton each. were ready on railway
uSnSs " 10 puSdCu Wdlu bClllu0
the advancing armies, the newspaper
said.
Teuton Man Power Whitening.
by Webb Miller, United Press Staff
Correspondent
PARIS, Aug. 20-The serious IN
roads the allies persistent hammering
is making into the German reserves
1911 @h 49, % eor -
supreme effort, are shown by the two
significant facts-appearance of sever
al divisions ON the west front, and a
number Of boys OF the 1919 class
among the latest prisoners.
The proportion of boys taken In re-
cent hauls. indicates that practically
all of the class Of 1919 have been sent
to the front
Reliable reports from Switzerland
assert that the recent conference at
main headquarters, in which the kali
ser and Emperor Karl participated,
was concerned chiefly with the crisis
in manpower. resulting from the turn
Of affairs on the west front. 1t Is re-
ported that Karl reluctantly agreed
to lend Ludendorff cannon fodder
If public opinion would stand the
strain. The Germans pointed out that
the war would be won or lost on the
west front, and that Austria would be
beaten there simultaneously with Ger.
many in case the latter were defeated.
Government organs in Austria al
ready are preparing the public for the
shock, explaining the closer military
union with Germany was necessltated
by events at the front The National
Zeitung warns the emperor against al
lowing the Germans to use the Aus.
TRAN army.
Woe unto Karl If he allows him
self to be bu1lied into sending Aus
TRANS into the shambles," the news
paper declares. at will chain his des-
tiny to Ludendorff and will seal the
fate of himself and the people for
ever"
| From Vienna It Is reported, that
Karl is worried and doubtful whether
the people and the army will submit
tamely to the German demands.
/ The Germans are now scraping up
| for fighting, replacing hitherto unfit
men in auxiliary work by girls.
Emperor Karl Refuses.
/ ZURICH, Aug. 20-Emperor Karl
has refused to send Austria. troops
! to the western front, ACCORDING. to a
rumor current in Vienna, dispatches
declared today.
| TUnconfirmed reports received re-
Gently said that one Austrian division
4 had been observed in the German lines
on the west front
| The minimum said to have been de-
manded by the kaiser was fifteen d.
lvisions.l
| More Troops Arrive.
| LONDON, Aug 20.-Another con-
/ tingent of American troops has ar
rived at Liverpool 1t was announced
today. They were cordially received
German Captain Held.
| German Captain HEIDI.
| UNITED Press Leased Wire Service.1
| LOS ANGELES, Calf, Aug. 20
Captain Henry Ohlmutz was in jail
f! here today while federal authorities
investigated his citizenship and
charges of smuggling. His ship. the
two masted schooner Chispa, carrying
no cargo and a crew of Ave. has been
seized by an American warship off
Ensenada, Mexico, and was towed
! into Los Angeles harbor late yester-
day. 1t is held by naval authorities.
! Captain Ohlmutz told authorities he
lis a native of Germany and has been