The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-08-24
TASTING DEFEAT ON
SIXTY MILE FRONT
CONTINUED from page l.

positions at several points in Lor-
raine.
In the Lassigny region and be-
tween the Oise and the Aisne there
was sharp artillery fighting" the
comnrunique said. I'm Lorraine,
French detachments penetrated sew
eral points in the German trenches
and took prison ers."
Fall Of Noyon.
LONDON, Aug. "a Oils p. MI
Fall of Noyon Is expected any min
ute. The Germans are still holding
out in the town, but they are In a
dangerous position. as the French
guns now command all railway and
highway communications leading
from the place.
Rate Of Progress Siackens.
.[By John DeGandt, United Press
Staff Correspondent
PARIS, Aug. 24.-(4 p. m.)-The
south banks Of the Disc and the
Ailette have been completely cleared
of the enemy as far east as Point St
Mard and the French are now firmly
established north of the Ailette.
Opposite Coucy-Le Chateau, the
French continue to progress, princt-
pally in southeasterly direction.
West of Noyon, French troops are
advancing methodically upon Guy.
-four miles west of Noyon and three
miles east Of Lassigny). The rate of
progress between the MatZ and Sois-
sons, however, had generally slack
ened today.
British Advance.
by Lowell Mellett, United Press Staff
Correspondent
WITH THE BRITISH ARMIES IN
FRANCE, Aug 24.-The British ad-
vance today carried them forward on
a wide front between the Ancre and
the Somme.
Bray, Becordel-Becourt and OWL
are reported to have
fallen in rapid succession.
bray is on the north bank OF the
Somme, five miles southeast of Albert.
Becordel-Becourt is two miles directly
east Of Albert Ovillers-LaBoIssell
is three miles northeast of Albert).
The Germans heavily counter at
tackled on the high grounds north of
Happy Valley north of Somme) this
morning. The result is not yet known.
The ground there is already covered
with dead.
At seven a. m. the Germans were
still opposing the advance toward Ba-
paume at Bihucourt (two and half
miles northwest of the city,.
The British and Germans struggled
all night, back and forth along
thirty mile front on the old Somme
field, in one OF the bloodiest battles
Of the war.
The British advanced appreciably
this morning at many points, gaining
several important villages and fighting
positions The Australians early this
morning smothered several machine
gun nests which had been continual
menace, infliching heavy casualties
and taking many prisoners.
The high ground toward Fricourt
three miles east of Albert) was seiz-
ed during the night.
The line is now reported to be east
of Ovillers-LaBoissele.
We pushed ahead below Bie1yillers-
Les-Bapaume "a mile and half north
west Of Bapaume) and advanced pa
trolls are reported near that town. Ter
rife fighting is going on in maze OF
trenches below Neuville-Vitasse Cthree
miles southeast of Arras).
Welsh troops waded across the
Ancre east of Reaucourt last night and
reinforced party of their own men
who crossed Thursday night.
Great numbers OF airplanes are
sweeping back and forth above the
Boches, firing machine guns at them
and dropping bombs with terrible eff
feet. Two howitzers were DESTROYED
by bombs. Tilloy was bombed heavt-
II. The weather this morning was
damp and cloudy.
Austrian AirpIanes Fall.
ROME, Aug. 24.-British and 1tal-
ian airrnen brought down 3o2 Aus
trian airplanes from June to August
20, it was officially announced today.