The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-03-28
BATTLE BLAZE
BURNING LOW
Continued from page II

British line. the French are solidly
holding the left bank of the Oise be-
tween Tergnier and Noyon, COM
mandine the bridges and fighting with
spirit unequaled since the battle OF
the Marine.
Nowhere in the entire war have
seen calmer confidence. The poilus,
convinced the Germans are playing
their last card, are performing indl-
yidual miracles.
A French battery facing Noyon
fought three days and three nights
without food After being completely
surrounded by Germans, the gunners
fought their way out, saving their
guns and carrying off their dead and
wounded.
The CAPTAIN of a French machine
gun company told me he went into
action with thirty thousand rounds
which were exhausted against the
solid masses Of the enemy. He de-
clared he could have easily fired six
ty thousand rounds.
Meantime hundreds upon hundreds
of man-killing soixantequinzes tsev-
enty-fyes) are performing to the ut
most the role for which they were
created namely the moving down OF
Infantry.
The heavy artillery is pounding with
deadly relentlessness against the
German rear A battery captain told
me his guns had for targets advanc-
ing columns, each of which consisted
Of solid battalions of Bavarians.
Prisoners say half the Germans
strength on the west front was facing
the French on Monday.
Refugees, who had partially re-
paired their homes after last years re-
treat. are the saddest sight of the
German advance. They are re-aban-
ioning everything.
British In jerusalem.
+ LONDON, March 2s.-British mount
ed troops were within mile OF Am
man at four o'clock yesterday after
noon, according to an official report |
from General A1lenby received today. |
Other British forces have crossed the |
river Jordan in the direction OF Am |
man.
Amman is ffty-fve miles northeast
of Jerusalem. 1t Is the ancient capital
of the Ammonites. 1t was destroyed 1
and later restored by the Greeks, who !.
renamed It Philadelphia.
DunkIrk Bombarded.
PARIS. March 2S.-Dunkirk has
been under enemy bombardment by
long range guns for several days, 1t
was announced today. There have
been but five victims and only small
material damage.
Dunkirk Is in France on the Eng
lish channel, about twenty miles west
Of the nearest point in the German
lines. This city has been under bonn
bardment before.
Austrian War Report.
VIENNA. (via London) March %.
-"Our attack again won ground on
he west 'front.'" the Austrian war
nice declared today. |,
"In Venetia ION the Italian 'front.'
here was lively local artillerying."
French Forced to Retire.
PARIS, March 2S.-Abandonment Of
was officially admitted by
he French war Office today. +,
"In the region of Montdidier, i'm :
lense German forces weer launched" :
ne communique said. !
After the bitterest fighting, we re- I
red in order to the west Of Mont !
idier" !
lMontdidier Is an important rail- r
pad and highway center ten miles
rest and south of Roye, 81 miles :
outheast OF Amtens and eighteen
lilies west and north of Noyon. 1t is s
nirty miles due west of Tergnier ,
hitch marks the German line before ,
he present offensive. Montdidier !
as a population OF about 100000
More C:::E,,,,-,s reeded -,
AMSTERDAM, March 2S.-Field
farshal Hindenburg and Chancellor
Lertling have decided to call up for
Military service the German criminals
( military age; according to advices
eceived here today.
Driving Teutons Back.
BY William Philip Simlns. United
Press Staff Correspondent
WITH THE BRITISH ARMIES IN
March ga heavy bonn
.ardment occurred this morning be-
ween Acheyille and the Souchsz
liver. There were no infantry actions
here.
West Of Beaumont-Hamel the en-
my is attacking in great strength.
Heavy fighting is ensuing.
The Germans last night launched
attack after attack against the Brit
sh positions in Rosignol wood, in the
same region, only to be hurled back.
They seemed once to have penetrated |
the eastern edge. but were driven gu.
after hard fighting.
Near Sailly-Laurette Give miles
west and south of Bray, on the Som
me river and northwards Coward |
the Ancre) the British are taking |
prisoners.
The weather at the beginning OF the |
second week of the battle is threat
enfng.
IAcheville is an important town |
three miles southeast of Lens and +.
about seven miles northeast of Arras |
The Souchez river is a small stream |
flowing southw estward through the !
southern outskirts of Lens, passing |
the city of Souchez, five miles |
southwest of Lens. Just east OF !
Acheville is the famous Vimy ridge |