The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-05-24
another to charge their direction
toward the west

Battle Of Noyon.
The most desperate fighting fol
lowed for two succeeding days. the
main object of the French being to
retard the German advance at all
cost. To this end Noyon. after being
defended for q time. was abandoned,
and the French retired back OF the
city, where, taking up their positions
on Mount Remand, they were able
definitely to check on March 25, any
further advance of the Germans into
the valley OF the Disc and force them
to change their advance to the di-
rection of Montdidier. Despite the
fiercest fighting since for the poses
sion of Mount Remand, this position.
which forms the pivot of the French
lines. has remained in allied possess
ion barring completely the route to
Paris.
Battle of Montdidier.
In the meantime the British army,
which after being thrown back from
ST. Quentin had been able to main
tain itself on the Somme, was forced
on the morning OF the Gath to fall
back in the direction of Roye and
Nesle which were successfully lost,
until finally on March "a the allied
line crossed the Ayre between Roye
and Montdidier. By quick marches
the Germans again endeavored TO
break the British and French line
at their point of juncture, but the al
lies fighting with their backs to the
wall, sacrificing Montdidier but keep
ing I'D their contact, were able on
March Is by a magnificent counter
attack, to throw the Germans back
from the villages they had taken east
OF Montdidier and definitely estab-
lish a line which all succeeding at
lacks of the Germans have failed to
weaken
Battle for Arras and Amiens.
In the meantime north OF the
Somme, between Peronne and Arras,
a second terrific battle was in prog
ress with Arras and Amiens for its
detectives and with the Third Brit
ish army defending them. Progress
was made by the Germans, but In the
end here too they were finally check-
ed.
German Tactics.
Immediately there were put into
effect by the Germans tactics which
has since been established are
planned to characterize the German
offensive throughout This provides
that the moment one Of their drives
is checked at any point, 1t Is to be
abandoned temporarily and new
drive started in new sector. This is
for the purpose, first Of avoiding
useless losses, and secondly, of en-
gazing the British and French armies
on such an extended front that all
of their reserves will be called into
action, rendering it possible for the
Germans at the last moment to strike
a decisive blow at any favorable
point that may develop.
Battle for the Northern Points.
With the checking of the German
drive both north and south OF the
Somme, this operation, in accordance
with the above tactics, was temper
arily abandoned, and a fresh drive
started north and south of Armen-
there's, with the French channel ports
as the ultimate detectives. After
more than a week of fiercest fight
ing. hardly had the allies begun sue
cessfully to check this drive, than I'M
mistakabie signs became apparent OF
preparations on the part of the Ger
mans to open another drive In still
another sector.
Every indication at the present
moment is that these tactics will be
continued by the Germans until the
battle is either won or lost.