The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-03-27
remainder are in the German crown

remainder are in the German crown
princes command.
Should the Bavarian crown princes
offensive meet with measure Of sue
cess, 1t Is considered highly probable
the German crown prince will take
advantage of the situation to launch
second offensive in the Champagne
region, for the purpose Of restoring
Hohenzollern prestige.
II the Bavarians' offensive does not
succeed, the German crown prince is
likely to refrain from compromising
himself.
A year ago. when the Germans re-
treated onto the Hindenburg line. they
prepared what unquestionably was in
tended for vast battle field upon
which they hoped to lure the French
for decisive battle.
The entire plain extending north
west and south of st. Quentin was de-
nuded Of every tree, house and other
obstacle which might serve to protect
the French troops. Even the knot on
the southern extremity of the plain
where Prince Eitel Friedrich's hunt
ing lodge is located, was denuded OIL
everything except the lodge itself.
Through the Holman forest, north
west of st. Quentin the Germans cut
vast avenues a hundred yards wide
and many miles long, for the purpose
of permitting them from the heights
behind st. Quentin to see any move
ment Of French troops.
While the French did not permit
themselves to be lured into the trap,
nevertheless the vast pre-arranged
battle field exists unchanged today.
The Germans apparently are seeking
again to utilize the ground which IS
most favorable to the Germans and un-
favorable to the allies.
Holding the Line.
[By William Philip Simms. United
Press Staff Correspondent
WITH THE BRITISH ARMIES IN
THE FIELD, March 27.-The British
are holding the line west Of Albert,
fighting every rod, according to the
latest reports at the moment OF cab
ling.
The British apparently retired west
Of the town yesterday afternoon.
(This Is the first news of retire
ment by the British from Albert
where Haig's official statement re-
ported local fighting north and north
east, with the situation unchanged
Thus with the war-made desert OF
the Somme battle field now crossed.
the fighting will begin to offer GER
tain advantages to the British, who
have good communications behind
them.
The wooded hill, valleys, villages
and towns offer good screens.
The fighting is heavy between the
converging Ancre and Somme rivers.
It is hottest around Meaulte, south OF
Albert, where one Of Haig's divisions
was reported holding its own early
last night.
During the afternoon a fierce at,
tack against Auchonvillers, north OF
Albert, was driven off, while north
west OF Colincamps an entire German
patrol was made prisoner.
The enemy is reported heavily she'll
ing the line between Hamel and
Beaumont-Hamel At Abs this after
noon report they were in Hebuterne
was unconfirmed. Likewise q rumor
that German armored cars are ad-
vancing lacks confirmation.
This morning the enemy was at
lacking in the region of Aveluy wood,
north Of Albert, while north OF this
point, the situation was unchanged,
save for an attempted enemy raid
west Of Arras.
All roads in the Somme region
converge on Amiens, but Hindenburg
ward to this place are meeting with
the most stubborn resistance.
Enemy airmen bomb the city night
ly. The famous cathedral was very
nearly hit by huge bomb.
The weather was perfect until
shortly before sunrise this morning.
when the sky was overcast.
[Simms' dispatch would indicate
that the British after retiring from
Albert, will attempt to make stand
southwest of that city, between the
Ancre and the Somme.
Between Albert and Bray, to the
south, the rivers are about five miles
apart Thence westward they gradu-
ally converge and join just west of
Corbies. which is fifteen miles south
west Of Albert. This region is high
and heavily wooded.
Mealute, where the British line is,
reported withstanding heavy assaults.
is about mile and half south of
Albert on the main Albert-Bray high
way and is between the Ancre and
the Somme.
The Aveluy wood is about two miles
north of Albert and borders the wef
bank Of the Ancre. Hamel is a mile
north of this wood, while Beaumont
Hamel is mile farther north. Auch-
onvillers is mile directly west of
Beaumont-Hamel. Colincamps is d
mile and half northwest OF Auchon.
villers. Hebuterne Is two miles and
a half northeast of Colincamps.
Arras is thirteen miles north of
Bapaume and marks the northern ex,
tremity of the German drive.1
Teutons Are MINDED.
NEW YORK, March 27.-The Ger
mans on the south wing have appar-
emily been checked and the Teuton
advance is appreciably slackening, in
general fatigue and lack of !
staying powers" according to British !
war Office reports to British officials .
here today.
L.