New-York tribune., 1917-07-31

London. July 30.-There was a slack
lery duel in Flanders, which in the last
three weeks has gradually been increas-
ing to an unprecedented intensity. The
British bulletins, consistently reticent
throughout the whole period. throw no
light on the reasons for this lapse, except
10 mention a violent thunderstorm yes
terday MORNING, which prevented fly
ing and presumably interfered with ar
tillery observation. The German War
Office announces fatty that it was due
to "the paralyzing influence Of our Of
fensive activity which increased
throughout the night"
General Haig refers to an increase
in the enemy's fire at Armentieres,
which is on the right wing OF the
bombarded front, and for the last
week the Germans have been hurling
a growing volume Of shells st the two
extremes of this thirty-three-mile
line, on the coast and near the French
border. At these two points and be-
tween them it is said that Hlndenburg
has massed the greatest number Of
guns the Germans have ever brought
together on any front for the pur-
pose of smothering any infantry move
ment which Haig might undertake. The
Belgium communique says that twen-
ty-nine German batteries face their
lines.
Nevertheless, Germany expects a
British offensive. The "Vossiche
Zeitung" declares that an attack by
Haig's armies is imminent and that "an
infantry battle will begin in decisive
form" The British are methodically
carrying out their preparations in the
air. Saturday night naval squadrons
raided the regions around Bruges, Mid
delkerke and Chistelles, dropping sew
eral tons of bombs and causing many
explosions and fires without the sac
rifce of a single fier. On the same
night the army airmen bombed two
railroad stations, n German airdrome
and munitions depot. On Sunday
morning the air fighting became vio-
lent until 10 o'clock when a severe
storm broke. The British War Office
says six German planes were accounted
for and six British machines are miss
ing. Berlin declares that ten French
and British fiers were brought down
yesterday. The Royal Flying Corps is
encountering stronger German opposi-
tion.
The infantry actions on the Brit
ish front were insignificant, being con-
fined to local encounters near Bulle-
court and Acheville and British raid
into the enemy lines at Lombaertzyde,
on the User, near the coast. The Ca
nadians pushed Unexpectedly forward
into Cite de Moulin, a suburb Of Lens,
in broad daylight. Previously the
Canadian attacks have come at night,
and their scouts learned that the Ger
mans, taking it for granted that this
would continue TO be so, abandoned
their defences during the day. Conse-
quently, the Canadian forces were en-
abled to gain a strip of territory
thousand yards wide and 400 yards
deep.
On the French front the Crown
Prince has been definitely forced back
to the defensive. Paris reports only
heavy canonading along the Chemin
des Danes and in the Verdun sector,
with the repulse of enemy surprise at
tacks. Berlin, however, gives an ac-
count Of a French counter offensive
yesterday delivered over a six-mile
front between Cerny and the heights
cast of Craonne. II is said TO have been
carried out with at least three divisions
of electives, but to have failed every
where.