The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-09-27
SWEEPING GERMANS
BACK IN BIG SMASH
Continued from page II

u
BACK IN BIG SMASH
Continued from page IL
tack on account of the fact that mos
of their guns were concentrated be
tween Verdun and Metz, or were o.
the road to that sector.
The number of prisoners is believed
to be far greater than the 5000 al
ready announced, as they are being
brought to the rear In canstan
stream.
The operations were shrouded al
morning In a heavy mist, from which
peaks and hills stuck up badly. The
valleys were invisible. Arplanes
circied low, keeping with the infan
try. Others waged unceasins attacks
on Boche flyers, thousands Of feet
higher maintaining complete mastery
OF the air. More than score OF
enemy planes and several balloons
were shot down.
American and French airnen kept
the Boche back as far as ten kiio'
meters (more than six niies) behind
their own lines most of the day. One
group of planes, sighting Soehe
cavalry reserve, swooped down on
them and drove those who survived
into wood.
Allied aviators went aIoft before
daylight, some sleeping beside their
machines close behind the front lines
Sor the first time. 1t was necessary
for them to wear gas masks until
they left the ground.
They flew in three tiers, two fight
Ing tiers above the observers and
bombers. The latter dropped tons of
high explosives on the enemy. Dun
Sur-Meuse eighteen miles northwest
of Verdun), Etain, twelve miles north
east of Verdun and other points were
heavily bombed.
Aerial Barraee Zone.
GENEVA, Sept 27.-The military
commandant at Mannheim has issued
procla nation warning that an aerial
barrage zone exists around Mann
helm and Ludwigshafen. Wire fences.
charged with electricity also surround
the zone, he warned.
Riots in Siasburg.
BERNIE, Sept. 27.-Recent riots in
Siasburg were of a most serious ma
ture. dispatches received here indi-
cate.
Troops have occupied the city,
posting machine guns in the cathed-
raj square. The damage from the
rioting Is estimated to be several
million crowns. The situation has
been restored, it was stated.
Americas Glorious Smash.
by Carl D. Groat, United Press
Staff Correspondent
WASHINGTON. Sept 27.-The ex-
tent Of Americas glorious smash in
the Argonne, surprised even those
staff officials in closest touch with
general west front plans. While
General Pershing's night COM
munique noted "over 5000 prison
ers," it is likely the final count will
run considerably beyond that figure.
Pennsylvania, Missouri and Kansas
troops are mentioned as having had
a generous share in this latest push
The troops OF the three states met
with stiff resistance, according to
General Pershing, but stormed Va
rennes. Mont BlainTille, Cheppy and
Vuquois.
Troops OF other corps, not specific
ely designated. captured Bots De
FORCES and the towns Of Malancourt,
Gethincourt, Montfaucon, Cuisy, Ma
tillos, Septsarges, Danneoux and
Observation-Disclosures
This composition Of the first
corps may have been altered, as al
most weekly shifts are made in all
the corps None Of the divisions
originally listed in the first corps.
except the Forty-second, would &C
count for the Pennsylvania, Missouri
and Kansas troops mentioned by
Pershing. The Rainbow division is
probably farther east than the pres
ent offensive.
The object OF this Joint drive of !
the Americans and French is to
make untenable the upper reaches |
OF the Hindenburg line The situa- :
ton on this strong defensive posi- I
ton apparently had shown sign OF /
too much equilibrium-too much of |
tendency to revert to the seesaw |
OF trench warfare to suit Foch, mill |
tary men say. Hence, the American /!
French smash, followed By a British I
blow near the Sensee today.
1t is all part of Foch's plainly /
revealed policy of keeping the Hun !
on the jump and in suspense. The F.
Boche may have had some idea of |
the imminence Of this Argonne |
stroke, but there were TO it many /
elements Of surprise. At points he /
oHered q strong resistance which /
however, the courageous persistence !
of the Americans crushed.
AT other points he relinquished
his first lines with but little fight. /
This stroke purposes to cut the /
communications running northward /
to the main portion Of the linden
burg line. 1t tends to make rather
less difficult than before, future op-
erations against Metz.
However, for the moment there is
no immediate connection between
this blow and the proposed crushing
of the great Teuton steel ring around .
Metz.
The whole general policy is TO
force the Germans back to new lines
OF defense and to accomplish the
capture of the important Metz-Briev
mine district by squeeze tactics.
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