The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-09-28
DRAG BIG AMERICAN
GUNS THROUGH MUD
fContfnned from page 1.)


the points reached by the infantry.
The roads and fields swarmed with
British contingents coming up to the
| front. There was practically no fire
to disturb them as they repaired the
canal bridges destroyed by the Ger
mans or built new roads around giant
craters in the main road where the en-
envy exploded mines as he retreated.
| Not until the end Of two hours did
| the German guns show signs of re-
newed activity, dropping high velocity
shells here and there in the open
fields, seeking out the British field
guns which were methodically pouring
out harassing Are on the line beyond
Cambria
To the right on the horizon. villages
could be seen burning-doubtless the
work OF the Germans, since no British
guns had been turned on them.
The canal itself and it's surroundings
made clear why II wa re~araed as a
central point IN yesterdays operations
yet made it harder to understand
how the British swept across it as fast
as they did Its steep smooth sides
offered little hold for the Canadians
and others who had the job Of clamb-
ering In and out, Yet. somehow. they
managed to do 1t, under fire from ma
chine guns planted all along the ridges
overlooking it Notwithstanding that
the element OF surprise had been elm
mated by the time they reached the
canal.
1t was first necessary to rush down
300 yards of slope and smother the
fire Of German outposts on this side
Of the canal Just beside the main
road, scattered brick yard with
kilns forming natural dugouts. AFFORD
ed the Germans stronghold. But
they were only utilized until it became
apparent that the British rush could
not be checked. Then the Boches
cleared out. taking many machine
guns with them.
Examination of the kilns. as we'll as
the SURROUNDING emplanaments show
ed the Germans had carried away prS
ticalIy all the material
The same was true OF the other side
of the canal where remarkable tun-
nels were found in the ridges along
the bank Ridges on the other side
Of the road enabled machine gunners
to sweep the approaching British al
most at will, but when they saw they
could not stop the onrush the machine
gunners wilted. and fled. taking their
guns with them.
Early reports announced the cap
ture Of thousand prisoners in con-
nection with the taking Of Flesquiers
and Ribecourt. while another wave,
passing through and relieving the first
took another 26O and a battery. No
Britisher ever thinks of Cantaing and
Cambria without remembering last
November, when Bourbon wood chang
ed hands daily Yesterday the Can
adams after taking Marquon, envelop-
ed the wood and village Of the same
name, with comparatively little oppo-
sltion. I do not intend to give the i'm
preston that the fight was a complete
walkover. One divi ion was compelle
to fight desperately to convince the
Germans that they must give up An
neux, while another found some fac
tory building, 1000 yards beyond the
canal, the toughest kind OF prob
lem Stern defense was met at Beau
camp.
The fact remains that the British,
by putting sufficient power into the
blow-there is no need to disguise the
fact that the British put tremendous
power in men, guns and tanks In to
this blow-were able to shatter the
finest land defense the Germans have
been able to conceive.
The explanation unquestionably can
be found in the human equation. In
line of prisoners five Nlocks long, !
physical nondescripts predominated. /!
saw two who looked no more than
fifteen years old and the whole bunch
looked far from first class fighting ma
terial
It is difficult to Judge an army by a
single batch Of prisoners, but there !
may be some significance in the fact !
that men whom the rapidly advancing !
British were sending back under escort
yesterday afternoon were not of the /
same quality as the trench system /
they were chosen to defend.
All Day Attack.
LONDON, Sept 2S.-The British at
tackled west of Cambria all day yes
terday and further progress was made .
in the evening, Field Marshal Haig /
reported today. Additional prisoners
and guns were captured. /
Yesterday the attack on the Cam.
brat front was pressed without re-
Taxation until late and further prog
ress was made in the evening, espec
tally in the northern portion of til,
battle field" the statement said
Additional prisoners and guns were
captured"
Americans Break Through.
LONDON. Sept. 2S.-The Americans
have broken through the subsidiary
defenses behind the linden ;urg line
on the ten mile front between Dame !.
voux and Eclisfontaine northwest OF
Verdun, according to battle front dis
patches received here today.
Between Nantillois and Montblain-
vile Ga front Of about ten miles, the