The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-08-13
OVER 10000
MACHINE GUNS
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Wv 6A1 AVlSVO
MACHINE GUMS
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Bombing operations were carried
on extensively by the British. Aero
dromes and other ground targets
were attacked with bombs and ma
chine gun fire after hard fighting with
protecting German flyers. The air.
planes and chemical works at Frank
fort were bombed with good results.
Some crossing and railway stations
at Peronne and Cambria were stead
ily subjected to bombing attacks.
The work of artillery observation
balloons was maintained, without In
terruption from the British side OF
the lines, 1t was stated.
Speed Of French Advance.
[By Lowell Mellett, United Press
Staff Correspondent
WITH THE FRENCH ARMIES IN
THE FIELD, Aug. 12.-(Night- 1.-The
old battle Of the Somme is on again.
The Germans are entrenched In the
well-worn lines. stubbornly holding
on and even attempting to counter
attack. although somewhat feebly.
This situation is the natural re-
suit of the necessity for bringing up
additional French big guns. An artil-
lery barrage today began to take the
place of the heavy machine gun tire
from the Boches.
They are also using quantities of
mustard gas.
Some idea of the speed of the
French advance yesterday can be OBJ
tained by the experience of general,
one OF whose regiments was held up
by well placed machine guns. His
auto swept past the men using a
depression at the roadside.
You're going WELL" he cried. "The
Boches can't hold you any more.
Come on"
Three hours later the regiment ha
advanced seven kilometers, four and
a half miles).
British Troops Advance.
LONDON, Aug. 13.-British troops
advanced last night north Of Roye
and along the north bank of the
Somme, taking additional prisoners,
Field Marshal Haig reported today.
(American troops are fighting north
of the SOmme.)
German counter attacks were re-
pulsed near Frauquescourt (between
Chaulnes and Royce. A hostile attack
in the Merris sector of the Flanders
front failed
ION the battle front we effected
further improvements in our positions
north Of the Roye road and on the
north bank OF the Somme," the state
ment said.
Additional prisoners were taken.
A local enemy attack in the neigh
borhood Of Frauquescourt was re-
pulsed A few prisoners were taken
in patrol encounters south Of Scarpe
and in the neighborhood Of Vieux-
Berquin. A hostile attack in the
Merris sector was repulsed in sharp
fighting"
Night was Unimportant.
PARIS, Aug. 13.-"There was no
important event during the night"
the French war Office announced to-
day.
"In the vosges and upper Alsace
enemy raids were unsuccessful"
French Driving Forward.
LONDON, Aug. 13.-Q:26 p. M
The French are driving forward in an
effort to flank Roye, Lassigny and
Ribecourt, it was learned this after
noon. Roye is being pressed closely
from the west and south and the
French appear already to be COM
handing it. The communications
eastward from the town are under ar
tillery fire. After capturing Les Loges
wood, the important defensive point
between Roye and Lassigny, the
French progressed and took the wood
to the eastward.
French troops have captured L'Ecou-
villon midway between Lassigny and
Ribecourt) and have gained ground
north of st. Claude farm.
The Germans are withdrawing ad-
ditional troops from the battle line.
Extension Of the flanks is known to
have greatly aided in exhausting their
reserves. There are now thirty-three
enemy divisions (probably 100000
mem on the battle front.
On the Aisne-Vesle front, French
and American troops by strong coun-
ter attacks regained positions they
had lost temporarily, near Fismette.
The French have now almost reach
ed the crest of the Lassigny heights.
A few Germans remained on the
highest point.
Germans are Evacuating.
LONDON, Aug. 13.-G:15 p. M
The Germans, as the result OF French
pressure. are evacuating the southern
defenses of Ribecourt, it was learned
this afternoon.
The enemy retired from their
trenches on a front of nearly three
miles, extending from the Disc at
point about a mile southwest Of Ribe-
court to a point west of Bailly 1.-TWO
miles southwest of Ribecourt).
The French occupied the deserted
positions.
Italians In Air Battle.