The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-08-26

United Press
War Summary,

1,4s4th day Of the war; 4oth day
of the counter offensive.
Picardy front-GeneraI Byns's
army extended the battle front north
of the searpe this morning by attack
Ing on a four mile sector east of
Arras- Tho British penetrated two
miles within few hours, capturing
three villages and reaching the old
Hindenbung line.
Farther southwark the British ad-
vaneed southeastward of heninel and
east of Mory, thus showing good pres
sure on both fianks.
Tho French captured Fresnoy le
Roy between Roye and tho Somme
and advanced slightly between the
Aiiette and the Alsne.
vosses front-Gcrman prisoners
were taken during the repuIse Of two
enemy attacks In this region.
Aisne-Vesle ffont-American troops
advanced third Of mile on front
Of mile and a quarter, east OF
Fismes yesterday, taking Important
German positions along the Soissons.
Rheims railway. Infantry operations
along the wf1ole Vesle front are be-
coming more active.
Tho British, striking eastward from
Arras, In new attack this morning
are reported to have reached the
Wotan section Of tho old Hindenburg
line, between the Scarpe and CojeuI
rivers. TWO villages on the line, and
one Just west Of 1t, were captured.
A penetration Of at least two miles
had been made.
Tho battle is now raging on front
Of nearly thirty miles, between the
Scarpe and the Somme. Additional
progress has been made on both
wings of this front.
On the remainder Of the active
front, between the Somme and the
Aisne, only violent artillery fighting
was reported, except slight advances
by the French north of Roye and be-
tween the Aliette and the Aisne.
The battle ITne, from the searpe
to the Alsne, now apparently ls
located as follows:
From Fampoux southeastward to
Monchy Ie Preux; southwark through
Guemappe, westward Of croIselles
and eastward of Mory to Favreuil;
southwestward through the western
outskirts Of 6apaume, and ThiiIery
to Martlnpuich; southwark through
Carnoy TO the Somme, at Cappy;
southwark through chuIgnes, Mer-
Vile, LIhons, Fresnoy Ie Roye and
Roy-statlon at crapeau-Mesnll; south
eastward through Fresniers to Thles-
count; eastward through Evrcourt,
Pont-L'Evque, Morllneourt and Bre-
tigny, to point south of Maincamp;
southeastward across the Ailette at
Champs, southeastward across the
AIIette at Pont-St. Mard, southeast
ward to Crecy-Au-Mont; southwark
through Juvisny and chavieny to
Scissors.
Retreat Of Won HIndenburs.
LBy ]. w. T. Mason, United Press
Staff Correspondent
NEW YORK, Aug. 26-Von Hinden-
burg is now engaged in the extraordi-
nary tactics Of rushing reinforcements
to the Picardy front for the purpose OF
assisting his own retreat
This paradodcal maneuver has not
occurred previously during the war,
and is the conclusive evidence
of the permanence of the German re.
tirement in the west. 1t has been
a fact that Marshal Foch continues to
hold the initiative and is ready to
spring through any breach in the Ger
man line and inflict a major catas-
trophe upon the kaisers retreatng
armies.
Won Hindenburg, therefore, cannot
conduct his retirement from the Pic
ardy front with any rapidity, nor can
he make It conform to schedule pre-
pared in advance. He must seize what
ever occasion offers for jump back
ward by one unit at time. While the
retirement Is occurring in any sector,
Continued on page 2)