The sun., 1917-09-18
RUSE SKATERS
GERMAN NERVES
British Keep Up Drum Fire
without Making Attacks
Foes Expect.

LONDON. Sept. 17.-British forces in
Flanders apparently are endeavoring to
destroy the morale Of the enemy by q
new method, or rather by an elaboration
OF the former method.
For several days now there has been
a drum fire of the utmost violence, but
no storming attacks have been made in
force The tension under which the Ger
man nerves are suffering Is reflected
strikingly in the Official Berlin reports,
which continually refer to the severity Of
this bombardment. usually adding such
clauses as that from the communication
to-day: Infantry attacks did not ma
terialize.-
trenokeo- asid TO the discomfort Of the
foe. The gains made usually arc of
relatively no importance, brt they serve
TO keep the Germans in suspense as to
where the next big blow probably will
be struck. As to when the next offensive
will he launched official statements give
no intimation, but II appears evident
that thu h6g guns must bs Horking Yith
'0enhs(e purpose in view At an early
date. ,-l.. -. b..
shells Rain At Lys and Arr~s,
Sertions where the shells fell thickest
to-uay WcIo Te0T lsys ana ArTAS. brft-
ish raiders were busy In the former
sector and also along the Somme. Eng
lish and Scottish troops bombed the foe
, in his dugouts and brought back many
prisoners. To-nikht's British statement
, tells OF the repulse. with severe losses,
OF an attempted German raid south OF
Lombaertzyde.
OF this phase OF the fighting Berlin
says:
I Good visibility favored the develop
ment OF lively artillery activity. In
Flanders the artillery duel on the
, coast and in some sectors between
Houtholst Wood and the I.ys increased
| several times to the most violent
| drumhre. British infantry attacks did
| not materialize and there were only
local engagements between the lines
as the result of which prisoners fell
/ into our hands.
Northeast Of Arras strong British
reconnoitring deta achments pressed for,
ward and at some points even reached
our lines. whence they were driven
back by our rapid counter thrusts
/ Near st. Quentin also the enemy
prepared by bursts Of fire for attacks
by his reconnoitring parties, which
were everywhere repulsed.
The night German statement report,
an increase in artillery firing.
| German forces have made another de-
termined attack upon the French posi-
tions In Apremont forest, tho Ardennes
Some detachments of the enemy which
succeeded in gaining a foothold in tn,
advanced trenches were elected, Pari.
says. adding: "Our lines were fully re
established"
Heavy Gun Fire on Aisne.
/ To-
| French posts at Violu was checked
| Violent artillery duels have taken plac,
west of Craonne and Massiges. Berlir
has this to say Of encounters with th
French:
Along the Aisne, notably northeast
Of Soissons. and also In the Cham
payne and before Verdun, the activity
OF our own and of the enemys artiI
lery increased. many times to great
intensity. The French lost prisoners
In several reconnoitring engagements.
| Details OF the bombardment by Britsl
naval seaplanes Of trawlers and German
destroyers along the Belgian coast be
tween Ostend and Blankenberghe wer
made public to-day by the Admralt,
One large German destroyer was hi
amidships and one or probably two O
q group OF four trawlers went dowr
One of q patrol OF German battleplane
was shot down by the escort OF tn
raiders.
The British official statement to.nigh
relates several important aircraft ac
tions, due to good weather condition.
In one case a body Of 1000 Germa
infantry was engaged with machine gu
fre from a height OF 100 feet and wa
scattered. Airplanes dropped 143 bomb
, upon an enemy airdrome and billets an
nred many thousands of rounds fror
their machine guns at targets on tn
ground.
'tSix German alrplanes were brougf
down in combat and four others wer
driven down out Of control. Anothe
hostile airplane was brought down ir
side tho British lines by anti-aircrai
gunfirs. Eight British planes are mis-,
Ing"
The Berlin Official statement to-da
contains this report on recent aeri;
engagements:
two airpIanes were shot down b
: one of our pursuing echelons from enem
aerial squadrons which bombarded Co
mar twice yesterday. In addition
these, the enemy lost sixteen airplanes
The Paris communiQue issued to-nigi
also reports q series Of important ope
tions by airplanes. 1t says that @
: Sunday four German airplsnes and or
Drachen were brought down by aeri
scouts, q sixth enemy machine fallir
victim to anti-aircraft FIRE. Six 9th,
| enemy machines were badly damage
: falling inside their own lines.