The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-10-23
GERMAN PEACE OFFER IS BEING CONSIDERED
United Press
War Summary
Sand day Of tho war.

from tne Dutch border to Valenci-
ennes-Unofficial reports indicate
the British have penetrated we'll into
Valenciennes, the last Of the great
cities held by the Germans in north
ern France. Journal has been flank
ed from the south and is practically
surrounded. Allied forces continue
to advance upon Ghent and Aude-
, narde.
From vaIenciennes to Laon--Brit-
ish and American troops early today
began an attack between Solesmes
and lie Cateau on front of five to
six miles. First reports stated they
had advanced mile. This assault
guarding the western approach TO-
the great fortress city Of Maubeuse.
The French last night extended their
gains along the south bank Of the
Serre, north OF Laon.
From Laon to Verdun-The Amer
leans today recaptured BrieuIIes,
which they abandoned after first
occupying It several days ago. The
Germans, through possession of this
village, have been holding up tho
American advance along the Meuse.
Hard fighting is still going on in the
VouzIers region.
From verdun to SwitzerIand-Pa
troll activity continues in Alsace.
Balkans-The French now hold a
front Of about twenty miles along
the south bank Of the Danube, facing
Rumanian territory. Allied troops are
extending their gains in Serbia, Mon.
tene0ro and Albania.
Forerunner Of New Attacks.
tBy j. w. T. Mason, United Press
War Expert.]
NEW YORK, Oct. 23.-Renewal Of
American and French patrol activity
along the Metz front and In Alsace
may be the forerunner of new at
taoks by General Pershing's COM
mand in those areas.
The progress OF the Americans
north OF Verdun toward the Luxem-
burg border is impeded by the large
number of new German divisions
that are being thrown into that Sec
tor to hold open Won Hindenburg's
sole way Of retreat from eastern
France. 1t is probable that along
the ltwentytnile front occupied by
the Americans Won Hindenburg has
concentrated twenty per cent of his
active fighting units.
One reason why the Germans are
able to maintain SO strong defen-
sive north Of Verdun Is the absence
of any large activity disturbing them
in Alsace or along the Lorraine bor-
der. The Rhine is not for the mo-
ment threatened by direct assault.
Therefore 1t is not Immediately nee
essary for the Germans to scatter
their troops through Alsace Lor-
raine.
The troops saved by the shorten
ing of the Picardy and Flanders
lines can all be hurled into the COM
bat to keep the Americans from cut
ting off Luxemburg.
A new attack toward the Rhine by
the Americans would change the
situation very quickly. The Germans,
therefore, would be unable to concen-
trate so important part of their
field forces north of Verdun. They
would have to spread their waning
reserves over an extra hundred
miles of threatened frontage south
of Verdun, and the possibility Of a
break through by the allies would
be much increased.
Marshal Foch has doubtless not
had the necessary number of fully
trained Americans up to the present
to undertake his new extension of
the campaign. His major offensive
efforts hitherto have been centered
on hampering the German retreat
from easern France and Belgium and
inflicting unprecedentedly heavy cas-
ualties. Now that the Germans are
moving well back toward their own
border, change in the allies stra-
egic plans must soon occur.
Unless the winter interferes, the
Rhine's turn to become major OBJ
jective is probably not far off.