The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-05-21
HUN SHOCK
TROOPS ARE READY
fCont1nued trOl:. pAge

thereby TO Improve COuSlueIdoAy IA'
allies defensive positions.
The German military mind works y
regularly along the line OF continued
persistence that the present lont
drawn pause in the west front opera
| lions must be due to unusual condi
tons. 1t is two months today since
Won Hindenburg's offensive began
The appalling losses suffered since
that time are not in themselves suffi
cient to deter the militarists from
further pursuit OF their coastal objec
tive. The promise Of victory was
too grandiloquently pronounced las,
March for an abandonment TO be &C
icepted by Won Hindenburg and Luden
dorff after only two months fighting.
But the slaughter OF German man
hood is very likely to have exercised
a profound influence upon the states
men Of the central empires. They are
in closer touch with public opinion
than are the military leaders and pub
lie opinion In Germany and Austria
Hungary is increasingly restless, as
time has been provided for dispas-
sionate review of the results OF the
west front gains compared with the
appalling casualty.
It is highly significant that stimuli
taneously with the halt in the west
front operations the German govern
ment should begin to direct the at
ention of the German people to the
Teutonic successes in Russia he
ports of four German kings for Rus
sia's western provinces are being cir
culated and the creation OF vassal re-
lations toward Germany by Ukraine
and Finland is suggested by the Ber-
lin overlords. Even Austrfa-Hungafys
future subordination to the Hohenzol-
Terms is minated by the kaiser's
statesmen.
These antics and others Of SINH
lar intent are undoubtedly being per-
formed to divert attention Of the Ger
man people from the west 'front.' rail-
ure. 1t is apparent that, though Won
Hindenburg may be anxious to con-
tinue his policy OF slaughter there are
others in Germany who desire to take
no further risks in the west. These
opponents Of Won Hindenburg are ap"
parently trying to placate the German
people for the kaiser's failure TO
reach Calais by promising future ex-
ploitations OF Russia and Austrla-Hun-
gary. II the Germans respond TO the
lure, 1t may be that Won Hindenburg
will be compelled to abandon ms
bloody strategy in Flanders and PIC
ardy.
Successful British Raids.
LONDON, May 21-Successful raids
in Flanders and Picardy. active nos.
tile artillery firing in Flanders and
near Arras and the repulse OF Ger
man attack on the western portion OF
~ uoc PanOYfRn nv
Field Marshal Haig today.
Surrey troops carried out sue
cessful local operation northwest OF
Meryille Yesterday evening and
brought back thirty prisoners and six
machine guns" the statement said.
"A hostile counter attack at the
same point early this morning follow
ing a heavy bombardment was broken
up by our artillery and machine guns.
I'VE made a successful raid south
east Of Arras last night taking few
prisoners and a machine gun.
Hostile artillery fire was more &C
tive than usual about Hebuterne, be-
tween the Nieppe forest and Meteren.
between the Scarp and Hill 70 and
north Of Lens.
Gas Smelling was reported heavy
north of Bethune yesterday"
Fighting Speeding Up.
LONDON, May 21.-Fighting is
speeding up on all fronts, according
to the night official reports. Success
full coups were made by allied troops
in Flanders, in Picardy, in southern
France, on the italian front and in
French troops attacking east and
northeast of Locre on the northern
portion Of the Flanders front, gained
all their detectives last night on a
front of nearly two miles, Field Mar
shall Haig reported.
The British won minor engage
nent east of Hebuterne, between Ar
-as and Albert.
French detachments penetrated the
German first and second lines north
west OF Rheims, the French war Office
Violent artillery fighting
was reported north and south of the
Avre.
The Italian war ONCE reported the
.epulse of enemy patrols between the
Astico and the Adige and successful
;ortie at Capsule.
On the Albanian front in Macedon-
a, French and Italian troops in a
.hree day action. drove back the Bull |
sars on a wide front west Of Koritza, !
advancing their positions twelve and a
half miles. This is the most import |
md advance on this front in more |
han a year.
The German war office claimed that |
he French assaults near Mont KEN /
mel broke down with heavy losses"
The fight ting on the Italian front, |
to the Austrian war office |
esulted favorably to the Austrians.
Excuses to the People.
WASHINGTON, May 21.-Germany.
iicing her bread and meat rations, is !
laYing trouble at home EXPLAINING