The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1917-05-15
VIOLENT
COUNTER
ATTACKS
French and British War Of
flee Reports Today Indi-
cate a Concerted Drive
Started by Hindenburg
Officials So Convinced.
(Ey United Press cablegram.)


LONDON, May 15.-Germany
launched a concerted counter-at-
tack on both the French and Eng
lish fronts today of such force as
to suggest almost a general coun-
ter offensive movement.
The attacks were repelled for
the most part but both the British
and the French forces were com
PEELED to give up small bits of
ground.
cENTERS AT BULLECouzr.
Marshal Haig's report detailed tre-
mendous German bombardment of the
positions his troops have gained on The
Hindenburg line and particularly At
Bullecourt followed by attacking waves
There was heavy fighting. In the
northern part of the village the British
commander admitted that British al
vance posts had been forced back
short distance.
STORM LA BoUvELLE
The French official report showed 4,
violent bombardnent OF General Ne
vfrfs's recently gained position on tfsss
Ladies Highway and powerful Germs.
attack over a wide front near La Bou-
velle. The assault was repulsed by ms
chine gun fire except in one spot where
a small advance trench was occupied
Other attacks reported by the French
indicated the tremendous scope of the
German counter offensive movement-at
Filain. north of Craonne. east of Hill
10S and northeast of Auberive. TheSe
attacks were declared unsuccessful
by WEBB MILLER
(United Press STAR Correspondent.
WASHINGTON. May 15-Members
of the general staff of the army belieye
Germany is planning one of the great
est ofensives the Kaiser's forces have
yet undertaken 1t is to. be hurled
against the western front. Mihtar,
men here say that all signs point TO
such plan. Russia. they believe. 81
least for many weeks to come. is virtu-
ally eliminated as military factor.
Therefore Germany has completely
switched her military plans
MAssINo TROOPS
The new plans already are being car
ried into execution. They call for
thinning of the Teuton eastern front
lines and massing of troops drawn
away on the Franco British Belgian
front. United States military men who
holdsthis view include officers who have
been official observers with European
armies.
Germany. these men told the United
Press today. serves more than one pur-
pose in thus deciding not to carry out
the offensive that was first planned
against the Russian lines and that in
cluded a drive for Petrograd With
Russian and Teuton soldiers fraternfz-
ing on the eastern front and the Rus
sian internal situation becoming more
and more choatic. Germany. in not dr:~-
ing against the eastern lines can betesr
carry on her propaganda among IT,.
soldiers and inside" Russia as WEI.
In the meantime she can well are..s.
to release half a million men for SER
ice to stem the Franco British offensive
and start one of her own. Germany. il
was stated, further played good politics
in deciding not to carry out the Petro-
grad drive Hindenburg drive since to do
so might have solidided Russian against
the Teuton foe.
Since Carbon was overthrown they
said, the German armies have not
shown themselves to be common foe
and this fact has greatly contr ibuied to
the seeming disintegration.