The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-08-12
TEUT0N RESERVES CANNOT STOP ALLIES
United Press
War Summary

the counter offensive.
Picardy front: While the allied adj
vance has been slowed UP in the CEN
ter, as the result of tho Induction OF
new German reserve divisions, both
winos continue to progress steadily.
American and British troops are re-
ported to be in the western outskirts
Of Bray, on the north bank OF the SOM
me which is the most important town
to the eastward.
In the center, the Germans are hcav-
lily counter attacking around Roye, but
the French have taken L'Echeiis,
while the BrItish have recaptured IL
hons. Reports that Cleanliness and
Roye have been captured are incorrect.
Between the Avre and the Disc the
French have made additional gains on
a front Of more than eighteen miles,
threatening Riheeourt and Lassigny.
German prisoners are now estimated
at 10000, With more than 700 guns
captured. Total enemy casualties arc
estimated at more than 100000.
Aisne-vesIe front: American and
French troops continue to harass the
Germans north Of the vesle. New
Prussian divisions have been eneoun-
tered.
Flanders front: British troops I'm
proved their lines east Of Robecq and
between Ve.D-eerquin and Merris.
Germany: Newspapers reflect the
serious effect of the recent reverses
on German morale.
Russia: The British and French
consuis arrested by the Roishev'ki at
Moscow have been released. Premier
L.erine and War Minister Trotsky are
reported to have fled to Cronstadt
To Old Hindenburg Line.
iTBy J. w. T. Mason, United Press
War Expert-l
NEW YORK, Aug. 12.--The re-
treating Germans have now reached
their final defenses west of the
,, Somme front, which in it's turn forms
| the last resting place in advance OF
| the old ssIIindenb burg line = The Ger
mans are fighting desperately with
their backs to the Somme south OF
Peronne. This situation requires
that they move their heavy artillery
| across the river Immediately OF else
risk it's entire capture by the allies,
| if Field Marshal Haig moves ms
front forward with sudden lunge
! The principal German resistance at
| present, therefore, west OF the
Sornme is rifle and machine gun
| fire. The artillery on the east bank
of the Somme will become effective
| very shortly and may prevent Mar
shall Foch from permitting frontal
attack on the Somme line, in accord
ance with his policy of sparing lives
as much as possible.
| The British and French, in fact
are now beginning the development
of a thanking operation against the
Somme positions from the south
This is one OF the purposes OF the
British advance toward Roye and the
french movement in the direction Of
Noyon. If these two towns fall into
moss ession of the allies, slight ad
vance northward will make perfect
pocket of the Somme positions ane
will compel the Germans to retire
to the "Hindenburg line"
This same thanking operation
against the Somme from the south
is beginning to menace the western
flank of the Germans between the
Vesle and the Chemin-Des-Dan1es
Marshal Foch is here developing a
double strategy. He is linking bott
the Picardy and the Champagne op
/ erations, SO that in reality the drive
eastward from Montdidier shall form
a single campaign with the drive
northward from the Marine. Unit!
Of purpose is thus coming into Its
| full strategic value as the result o.
the allies unity of comm and.