The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1918-04-11
GERMANS FAIL
IN IS BLOWS
roe UNABLE TO BREAK THROUGH
e FRENCH pEFENsEs.
A IL -1.-4-~.--4s4>..-
ADVANTAGE IN MAN POWER
Bread Is SIS Per Loaf and Shoes $500
per Pair, In constantinople--
Lull Before Expected Onslaught
Is Favorable To Allies.

Paris. April 10.-While awaiting
the next great onslaught OF the Ger
mans, which has been delayed by bad
weather at the front, details of the
fighting of the last two weeks are
coming through the lines, and tell OF
heroic work done by the allies in the
bloody fighting on the Grivesnes pla-
teau. northwest OF Montdidier. Since
March 81 the Germans have attacked
there eighteen times, for the Grievs-
mes positions form one of the bas-
tions Of the French defense before
the Clermont- Amiens railway.
The crisis came on March 81. Sew
en- times between $3.50 in the morn
ing and in the afternoon Pomeran-
ian. Brandcnburger and Hessian bat
talions. with the Sd division of the
imperial guard, flung themselves in
dense waves against the French lines
consisting of trenches hastily dug
and united to such natural obstacles
as walls and bitches.
Enemy Reaches Edge of Village.
Twice the enemy, showing great
bravery. reached the edge of the vii
lage and twice the French, counter
attacking, drove him out, The enc
my's third effort. led by two regi-
ments of the guard, assisted by spe-
cial detachments of shock troops, re-
suited in long and terrible hand to
hand conflict The French, though
outnumbcred, made splendid resist
ance Three battalions stretched
along the Montdidier road sustained
the assaults OF two full regiments
during six hours. One company in a
thicket near village beat off two
entire batta!ions of Hessians, firing
steadily 10 the last cartridge and in
nieiiag kcary losses.
tone dr,achment of German shock
I: pops sucec, Ged in capturing group
OF ruined hueses at the edge of the
t@iase rhe French surrounding
the houses made a brilliant counter
attack and annlhilated The "stosstrup-
pers" (snoek tyoopsl.
Farther on. near Boyerie, French
regiment having successfully resisted
several big attacks suddenly took the
offensive, caught the Germans in the
midst Of preparations for another
assault. routed them and retook the
positions which had been lost on the
preceding day, holding them firmly
against all subsequent cOunterat-
taeks. .... ...
French Guns Slaughter Enemy.
Field artillery continues to play .
leading part in this region. The
French "75s" are constantly adding
ing fieldpiece French observers on
the evening of this ensanguined day
discovered two German columns de
bouching from Malpart woods and
conyerging toward Grievsnes wood
The "75s" opened fire. The Germans
were nearly annihilated French pa
trolls exploring the neighborhood dur
ing the night found walls and ridges
of corpses along the hedge beside the
road
The lesson Of these losses was not
lost on the enemy Since March 81
no serious offensive has occurred in
this region, while the yigilant French
have occupied the time in lettering
their positions.
Advantage In Man Power.
Washington, d. c.. April 10.-Be-
fore The launching of the German Of
fensive in France the Anglo-British
armies had preponderanee of men
on the western front. figures obtained
from an official quarter today placing
the German strength at 100000 men
and the AngloFrench at 100000
BY a rapid concentration on fifty
mile sector, where the drive was to be
made, however, the Germans achieved
a man power superiority of 2 to /,
this tactical movement being accom-
panied at the same time by the cor
centration of guns and munitions in
even more overwhelming numbers
and quantities.
BY taking advantage Of the early
season. the ground being prepared
where the drive was to be made, the
Germans ran practically no danger of
allied offensiyes on either extreme of
the Franeo-FIanders front on account
Of their seasonal nature The Ger
man command. according to informa.
ton which was obtained today. be
gan the great battle with shock troops
in overwhelming force. these troops
having undergone special training for
several months behind the German
Iinesbsrssh sKV 1870
'efead' s5 loaf Shoes $500.
ROME. April 10.-Berne reportsl
that Constantinople is reduced to
economic ruin. The Germans. with
the consent Of prominent Young
Turks. have requisitioned the food.
while uncontrolled speculation makes
the city the most expensive in the
world to live in. A two pound loaf
OF bread costs IS; meat is 81 a
pound, -four SIS. potatoes 50. butter
SIG. and sugar So Eggs are rare
at so cents apiece; chickens are So
each, and shoes from 800 to 5000
pair A mans suit costs from 5000
70 $500.