The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-03-27

49,
Staff Correspondent
PETROGRAD, March 26.-Russian
military officials and delegates to the
recent Brest-Litovsk peace conference
declare German officers openly discuss
ed the then forthcoming west often
siye The Germans, they said, prom
fsed to take Paris within two months
and make a general German peace by
Christmas.
Strong Reserves.
AMSTERDAM. March 27.-"The en-
envy holds strong reserves south OF the
penetrated front with which to attack
our troops from the flank" declared
the Berlin Vorwaerts, in copies receiv-
ed here today.
Further Local Fighting.
LONDON, March 27.-"Further local
fighting north and northeast of Albert"
was reported by Field Marshal Haig to-
day.
"The situation here is unchanged"
he said.
IN the neighborhood of Bray, as a
result of enemy attacks yesterday az
ternoon astride the Somme, we were
forced back a short distance" Eaig
said.
South of the Somme heavy attack
early Tuesday night against our new
line was repulsed after severe fight
ing.
Of the river the enemy forced his way
into our positions, but was thrown
back by counter attack"
A Haie's General Order.
AONDON, March 27.-Ffeld Mar
shall Haig issued the following general
order Saturday to all troops in France
and Flanders, it was announced here
today.
ITO all ranks of the British army in
France and Flanders:
I'VE are again at crisis in the war.
The enemy has collected on this front
every available division, aiming at the
destruction of the British army.
1--WE have already inflicted on the
enemy in the course of the last two
days very heavy losses and the French
are sending troops as quickly as DOS
sible to our support.
II feel that every one In the army,
fully realizing how much depends on
the exertions and steadfastness of
each one of us. will do his utmost to
prevent the enemy from attaining his
object"
Only Few French Engaged.
PARIS, March 27.-"Only few
French divisions are engaged" Sub
secretary Of War Abrami declared to-
day.
'The bulk of the French army Is
awaiting events, while the most power.
full British reserves are just arriving
on the field"
German General Killed.
AMSTERDAM, March 27.-General
Won Blotlnitz, commanding one Of the
German divisions attacking st. Quen-
tin, was killed in action Friday, &C
cording to dispatches received here
from German sources today.
Further Advance Expected.
LONDON. March 27-There is a
disposition here to anticipate unflinch-
ingly the possible fall of further es
tablished positions, such as Albert.
as well as the German Smelling OF
uAmiens, preparatory to effort to break
through in that direction.
There is no reason to believe the
Germans will not essay desperate
assaults against Arras and north of
that city, despite the superior
q
French participation on big scale
is forecast, possibly in connection
with the open battle which Is rapidly
developing; also in connection with
possible carrying out Of the French
commands own strategy elsewhere.
Reconstruction Destroyed.
by Henry Wood. United Press Staff
Correspondent
WITH THE FRENCH ARMIES IN
THE FIELD, March 27.-Many towns
and villages in which Smith college
girls, Anne Morgan, Elsie DeWolfe
and numerous other American charity
workers, spent hundreds of thousands
of dollars, succoring the populations
and restoring the devastation, are
again the center of a battle field and
renewed evastation.
All restoration so far accomplished
in these places has been re-destroyed.
There is every reason to believe
the workers have had ample time to
evacuate the threatened cities before
the battles approach.
Situation Less Critical.
LONDON, March 27-"The situa-
ton is less critical than at any time
in the last three days." declared
General Maurice, director of opera
tons at three o'clock this afternoon.
summing up the reports received up
to one o'clock.
THE enemy has been definitely
checked north of the Somme. Their
troops show exhaustion. Reserves,
however, are coming up north of
Albert.
South of the Somme, fresh enemy
attacks are expected. Their reserves
are approaching Roye and Noyon.
French reserves are also approaching
those places.
'The battle is far from over Other
crises are possible, but time is on
our side. The enemy is further from
his rail heads. His lines are con-