The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-09-09
GERMANS DEFENDING
SAINT QUENTIN
CONTINUED from page 1.

prisoners died as result of this treat
meut
British Air Report.
LONDON, Sept. 9--Eight enemy
Airp1anes and one captive balloon
were destroyed by British airmen on
September T. the British aviation COM
munique reports.
"Clouds and transforms limited
work in the air on September z, but
great deal of aerial observation was
carried out as well as reconnals-
sances and constant patrols" the COM
munique said.
Eight hostile machines and one
balloon were destroyed by our air
men, Three Of our machines are mis-
sing. Thirteen tons OF bombs were
dropped by us during the twenty-fopr
hours. Our night bombing machines
all returned safely"
At Gates of LaFere.
IBy William Philip Simms, United
Press Staff Correspondence
PARIS, Sept. $40 a. m.)-The
French are at the gates OF Lafere
which is still aflame. Fall of this
bastion Of the Hindengurg line, which
The allies were unable TO occupy IN
1917, is probable.
st. Gobain in the wooden hill coun.
try centering in that town Is tenaole
only with difficulty.
(The st. Gobian forest is one of the
strongest defenses of Laon.) The
French can attack via Seryais at the
north, via Fresnes at the south and
via Barisis and Aulers.
To the westward the allies have
taken Villeveque and st. Emile in
their advance toward st. Quentin.
Attacked Gouzeancou
LONDON, Sept. 9.-Q2:40 p. M
The British are now attacking Gouze-
aucourt, it was learned today. (Gou-
Eeaucourt is on the Hindenburg line
southeast of Havrincourt wood.)
British patrols have occupied Yer
mand (six miles north of st. Quentin)
md Vendelles north Of Vermand) IL
was learned.
The British have reached the west
ern and northwestern edges of Epehy
ffour miles south of Gouzeaucourt on
the Hindenburg line.)
British patrols are reported to have
passed through the village.
Advance From the South.
PARIS, Sept 9.-French forces dur
ing the night advanced toward st.
Quentin from the south and also
gained in their thrust against LaFere
from the north, according to the war
office official communique today.
The statement follows:
"North of the Somme We enlarged
our progress on eastward of Avesne
toward Clastres. We occupied the no
table LaMotte farm southwest of St
Quentin.)
"Our elements crossed the canal Co
zat L1ez northwest, OF Latere.)
Between the Disc and theAisne
during the night there was violent
German artillery and German infantry
reaction. Two strong counter attacks
in the region of Laffaux were re-
pulsed.
Artillery Fighting.
LONDON, Sept 9VArtillery fight
ing on the Arras-Cambrai road and at
several other places ON the front was
reported today by Field Marshal
Haig.
"a hostile raiding party was sue
cessfully repulsed last night north OF
Arleux (between Cambria and Dou-
all the statement said.
with the exception of artillery
activity in different localities being
mutual. particularly in the neighbor-
hood IF the Arras-Cambrai road and in
the LaBassee canal and Ypres sectors,
there is nothing further to report"
Within Four Miles.
The French are now only four miles
from st. Quentin and cavalry patrols
are close to LaFere, it was learned
this afternoon. The French now hold
the Crozat canal on practically its
whole length.
Close to LaFere.
PARIS, Sept. 9.-G0:2O a. NJ
French forces have reached positions
close to LaFere and occupation of the
cit- is probable, according to battle
front advices.
LaFere is one of the principal al
lied detectives. It is behind the Hin
denburg defense system and is of the
highest strategic Importance
British are Attacking.
by Lowell Mellett United Press
Staff Correspondent
WITH THE BRITISH ARMIES IN
FRANCE, Sept. 9.-(2:3O p. ny
South of GOuzaucourt British adj
vanced guards attacked today. At
noon the assault was going well.
tGouzaucourt is on the Hindenburg
line southeast of Havrincourt wood
On Defensive Now.
THE HAGUE, Sept. 9-In view OF
relative conditions" the German gen
eral staff has decided to conduct fu-
ture fighting on a defensive plan of
strategy, according to the new spaper
vorwaerts of Berlin in copies received
here today. The article stated that
Germany must reckon with thirty
two American divisions and that half
trained Americans could be sent to
quiet sectors TO release trained troops
for offensive operations