The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-04-01

ing continues from one end of the new
battle front to the other, both the
British and French being engaged. But
opposite the British, the fighting is
mostly quite local in character.
Some of this today was done amidst
a thunderstorm, with rain and hail,
typical of April in France. The sun
occasionally penetrated the clouds,
making the rain-drops simmer in the
peach and apple blossoms, SO abund
ant on the hillsides along the firing
lines. The Germans vainly attempted
to reach the Paris-Calais railway. They
attacked heavily in the region of Nor
euil, but were thrown back without
progress. The cavalry dashingly aided
in clearing UP the situation. especially
in the forest northeast of Moreuil.
Fighting similar to this is going on
around Arras in the Ancre valley at
Albert and astride the Somme and
| Luce.
| Low flying war plans. cavalry, ar
tiilery and infantry are participating.
The main thing is, the enemy has
failed to advance worth mentioning.
anywhere, losing everywhere. Between
| the Somme and Morlancourt alone,
small affair cost them three thousand
dead and a defeat.
| During the past two days have
heard stories of the heroic work OF
American engineers. who dropped
picks and shovels and grabbed rifles.
helping to hold the line at a threaten
| ed point. They were ION the job"
| several days.
| British odd units likewise were un-
able to keep out Of the fighting, join
| ing the ranks of rif1emen.
/ The enemy is REPORTED concentrate
! ing at various points. The present
comparative quiet may be broken at
any time.
Hindenburg promised the German
war correspondent he would be in
Paris on April /. He is far behind
schedule and has got to hurry
COMMANDMENT RESUMED.
PARIS, April 1.-The long range
bombardment Of Paris was resumed to-
day.
Attacks Broken Up.
PARIS, April NORTH of Mont
older, especially between Montdidier
and the road from Peronne to Amiens,
the Arglo-French forces broke up pow
erful German attacks" the war office
announced today
French Retake City.
PARIS, Aprin1 1.-"Hangard-En-
Santerre has been completely recap
tured," the French war office reported
today.
1.-THE Germans necessarily attacked
Grivesnes five miles north and west
of Montdidier). After hand to hand
fighting 1t remained in our hands. The
German losses were considerable
Germans Now on Defensive.
by ]. w. T. Mason, Written for the
United Press.1
NEW YORK, April 1.-The initia-
tive along the new western battle
front has now almost wholly returned
to the allies with the Germans fighting
practically everywhere on the defen-
sive.
This does not necessarily mean Gen. |
eral Foch is preparing to put major !
counter offensive into immediate !
operation. A policy Of caution may
suit present requirements better than !;
a hasty retaliation against Won Hin !
denburg's CHASTITY slaughter of Ger I
own man power.
The movement of American troops |
from the Lorraine front to western |
France does not yet suggest the allies ,
have decided to risk the outcome of /
the war to test of new super-com- !
bat in Pickardy. Present indications /
suggest that the American troops in !
volyed in the transfer are limited in !
and their appearance side by
side with the French and British will
be largely for morale effect
The matter of morale among civiIi-
ans at home has now become vital
element in the war. More than ever