The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-09-26

On the west front, British ana
French troops are tightening their
grip on ST. Quentin. They are al
ready within less than two miles OF
the city on a front of nearly seven
miles, extending from the northwest
to directly south of the city.
State of Siege In Sofia.
ZURICH, Sept. 26.-A state OF siege
has been proclaimed in Sofia, accord
ing to information from reliable
sources here today. Inhabitants must
remain indoors after 8 p. m. News
papers are appealing to the people
and the army to remain calm ana
not lose confidence "at moment
when the country is IN supreme DAN
ger"
The cabinet is sitting continuously
Gar Ferdinand is consulting with ms
generals at grand headquarters. IL
is reported that a ministerial crisis
is imminent Some circles predict
regency under Prince Boris.
Popular peace demonstrations &C.
Cured at the capitol Sunday. Mon
day and Tuesday.
Two Counter Attacks.
LONDON, Sept. 26.-"In addition
to the counter attacks already re-
ported launched by the enemy yes
terday northwest Of Fayet, he twice
attacked our positions north OF Grl-
court" Field Marshal Hatg reported
today. These attacks also were I'M
successful.
"a successful minor operation was
carried out yesterday by English
troops northwest of La Bassee, as
the result of which our line was ad-
vanced."
German Tank Forts.
TBy Lowell Mellett, United Press
Staff Correspondent
WITH THE BRITISH ARMIES IN
FRANCE, Sept. .26.-Germany is re-
ported to have prepared new me-
chanical obstruction to supplement-
her waning morale and man power
According to escaped Britishers
and German prisoners, at certain
places in this zone tank forts" have
been built. They are designed TO
meet the ever-increasing menace OF
the allied war chariots. They const-
tute well embarked and well placed
gun positions.
Their armament includes field
guns, trench mortars. rifles and ma
chine guns designed to operate to-
gether
But it will take something better
than tank forts" to save this line, II
German under-officer. captured
few days ago, tells the truth.
The last blow has opened the
eyes OF the commonest soldier to
the breakup of German military SD
premacy," he said.
I'VE are defeated, and know It.
doubt. however, whether the German
soldiers yet uncaptured realize how
crushing this defeat is. Coming
through your lines l saw things
could scarcely believe. Such trans
port, such horses, such men. Those
masses Of artillery, compared with
our wretched iron-wheeled transport,
skidding all over the place and block
ing the roads in wet weather; our
scanty, badly fed horses; boys pre-
tending to be guards Che was mem
Der of the Second guards)-an en-
phasize the terrible contrast In the
condition of the opposing armies.
I'VE still have a certain amount
OF artillery, but you must have five
guns TO our one. We are well Off
/ as regards shells, but you seem to
have an endless supply.
Germany is defeated. The sooner
she recognizes the fact, the better.
But you will have to admit that we
put up good fight. No nation could
! have done more
Istip Is Taken by ALLIES.
! LONDON, Sept 26.-The impor-
| tant Bulgarian center of Istip has
! been captured by allied troops, &C
/ cording to dispatches received from
the Salonika front today.
/ [Istip is in Serbian territory,
! eighteen miles east of Veles and
! thirty miles north Of Stroumitza. IT
| is thirty-five miles north of the near
! est point of the Serbo-Greek from
/ tier.
! Germans Fire on suIsarlans.
! LONDON. Sept. 26-German troops
/ are continually firing on Bulgarians
who desert from the battle line, 1t
was officially announced by the
! Serbian war office in the COM
munique received here today.
! German prisoners, according to the
communique, complain that the Bull
garians Intentionally abandon great
numbers of German-made machine
guns.
| Amongst other material captured
We're nineteen guns, mostly heavy,
and including one Of 21O millimeters
caliber.
"Our advance along the Prilfp-
! Veles road will have imDortant re-