The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-07-24

section Of the British army had
found out the same as 1. This is
not swank on my part. l simply
state these facts to prove that Sir
Douglas Haig knew when, where and
how Hindenburg's offensive was
coming.
Not very long before the offensive
began, an unfortunate thing occurred.
The fortunes of the war necessitated
the taking over of more line by the
British. Formerly the British line
ended near ST. Quentin. Now it was
extended as far as La Fere, and be
fore the troops got fairly into their
new sector, Hindenburg's blow fell.
Against the long, thin British line,
reaching from the river Scarpe to
tho Disc, at La Fere, was hurled the
mightiest force ever seen in battle.
Along this 50-miIe front three army
groups swept forward at dawn, IN
der cover of the mist. These were
the 7th army of Otto Won Below, said
to be the ablest commander linden
burg has; the End army of Won der
MarwiH and the 18th army of Won
Hutier, together numbering more
than so divisions, of which Al divi-
sions were used in the first days at
tack. Opposing the enemy were the
small 3rd British army under Sir JUL
ian Byng, of Cambria fame, and the
smaller 5th army, under Gen. Cough,
worn down in the campaigns men,
tioed and very thinly spread out.
No soldiers on earth ever went |
through such an ordeal as did the
British during the seven days fol-
lowing the start of that offensive. On
March % the enemy crossed the
Tortille and for a moment it seemed |
that they might succeed in separat- |
ing the French and British armies,
which joined up just south Of this |
point, but the gaps were closed and
the 5th army went on retiring, with |
the third army falling back in order /
to keep in touch. To the south the |
French General Fayolle, with superb |
skill, kept the gaps closed around
Ham, Neshle, Chauny, Roye and
Noyans.
On the Somme came another criti-
cal moment sHere again, had the
Germans been so clever as they like
to believe themselves, they might
have broken through; but again the
gap was closed. On the 18th the enc
my took Mantinpuich and Cource-
cite, and Albert was entered on the
following day, but by this time Gen
eral Foch had been made general
ssimo in charge of all operations on
he western front, the French had
moved northwestward as far as Nor
suil on the Avre, permitting Haig to
.hicken his line, and the offensive
vas brought to a standstill. In all,
,ighty-four divisions had been
lsed by the Germans, out OF
, total oT Como on0 divisions then |
Identified in the west.
The drive in Flanders came few
laws later. on April 9. 1t started in
/ small way. against the Portuguese,
ust south of Armentieres. and two
British divisions on their TANKS.
Buy their unexpectedly rapid adj
yance in the center, crossing the
river Lys at Bac-St. Maur and push
ng on towards Bailleul, q dangerous
situation was created for the British,
ind the Germans knew it. So they
quickly flung in more troops TO en-
arge the breach and the following
lay struck at Messines, north OF
armentieres. This city was deluged
With gas and "pinched out
AS on the Somme, the Germans
mder Won Armin and Won Quasi, by
advancing against the British lst
army (and the French, who had come
lp,) towards Hazebrouck, which
son became their objective, forced
of the army to the north,
the Ind which had won Passchen-
dazzle. From the Ypres salient, now
a dangerous pocket, the British fell
rack with practically no losses, TO
fpres itself This was heartbreaking
LOT the men who had this ground In