The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-05-13
|. s. GUNNERS HURL SHELL s into HUN CAMPS s
l00RS Of HELL SEEM To BE OPENED
WHEN AMERICAN ARTILLERY TURNS LOOSE

ENEMY is UNEASY.
LBy Frank J. Taylor, United Press
Staff Correspondence
WITH TINE AMERICAN ARMY IN
LORRAINE, May 12.--lnformation
CLEANED from German operations op-
posite the American fronts Indicates
q thinning Of the enemy lines be-
cause OF the drains on German re-
sources from Picardy.
The American sectors are far
enough apart to justify deductIons
regarding the German predicament
through this scarcity Of ranpower.
American patrols round Ancervilier
Un the LuneviIIe sector three miles
northwest Of Badonvilier) deserted.
| II had been former German outpost
and the scene of much patrol fight
Ing.
The Germans no longer attempt TO
hold their shell hole outposts, re-
tiring TO safer positions 10 avoid fight
ina with tho Americans. German
prisoners Indicate tho lowest grade
Of German troops are here.
Northwest Of TouI, american activ-
ity holds q ''traveiinu circus" OF
special German storm troops organ
lied for repeated hammer-Ii'<e blows
at our lines.
There are no German planes over
the American positions any more.
Although special air squadron ar
rived TO punish the American avsa-
tors, the enemy planes are ehAnetng
90 combats, except far behind che
Boche lines.
On the verdun front, the Americans
have learned that the German lines
are sparsely held. The Roches are
substituting frequent bombardments
Of high explosives and gas for Ger
man troops. This also 10 taken BY
American. officers to Indicate the en-
emy 10 uneasy.
In all sectors the enemys outer
positions, trenches and gas projectors
have been badly damaged by the Am.
| erican artillery without causing any
reprisaIs from the Germans. !.
American patrols this morning
penetrated the German wires In the
Toul sector and found a number OF
German bodies in the enerny's advanc-
ed positions. These Boches are be-
Iieved to have been killed by the
American bombardment. :.
German machine guns are active
against seichreprey lin the Toui
seotor).
In the Lorraine and verdun sectors
American patrols penetrated the Ger
man wires easily and conducted ex-
tensive explorations without encount-
ering any resistance.
Shells heaved over by the German
gas projectors recently are OF new
type, now popularity designated as
"tin cans" They are 10 inches long
and eight tnches In diameter; blunt
at both ends, and contain three or
four gallons Of liquid which evaporates
rapidly and throws off gas. The
pro iectors are not rifled and 1t is
possible to throw these new missiles
only a short distance. The gas Is
form Of phosgene and is capable OF
spreading dangerous vapor over an
area Of fifty yards.
The Germans shot "sncexe gas"
first, then the phosoene, attempting
to give the Yankees whiff Of the
former to force them to remove their
gas masks and sneeze, thus enabling
the phosgene to do its deadIier work.
The trick failed, as the doughboys
are too handy with their masks.
Mothers Day Observed
WITH THE AMERICANS IN PIC
ARDY, May 12.-Mothers Day was
observed on the whole American
front in France today. Thousands of
letters from the United States troops
to their mothers we're rushed from
the Picardy sectors.
Use Americans Tor Offensive.
1By ]. W. T. Mason. United Press
War Expert1
NEW YORK, May 13.-America's
great armies now in France are not
to be used by General Foch for de-
fensive fighting. but are being held
back for offensive operations when
the allies generalissimo decides the
time has come for major operations
against Won HindenbITg.
The fact that the rapidly increas-
ing overseas strength of the Ameri-
cans is not accompanied by enlarge
ment of American sectors in icardy
and Flanders undoubtedly means that
General Foch wants American par
ticipation during the present period
of fighting to be on a strictly limited
scale. and chiefly for its moral ef-
feet.
This attitude of General Foch dem
ops+rates that he believes the de-
fensive powers of the Anglo-French
forces are sufficient to prevent the
Germans from doing any serious DAM
age along the west front The Am
ericans therefore, according to Focnf s
plan. are not to be thrown away oy
engaging in the negative work OF hold
ing present positions but are TO nave
the honor OF delivering the next posi-
tive blow for democracy against the
kaiser's forces.
n is certain that General Foch
Win not be tempted to use the Am
ericans in great offensive until