New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-18
Flying at 100 Feet Over
Their Heads They Rout
Germans
Violent Gun Duel
Portends New Drive
Teuton Command Said 10
Be in Fear of Renewed
Offensive

LONDON, sept. It. ne u"e' VI N"'
Giant Guns in Flanders has increased IL
the most violent .drumhre, according tc
the German War Office, and infantry
actions on large scale appear immi'
nent. The most intensive artillery ae'
uvity is reported bysBerlin as beng
carried out on the coast and Tin some
sectors between Houtholst Wood and
the Lys," the great battle-scarred arc
Of territory east Of lpres.
Taken in conjunction with recent re-
ports OF the civilian evacuation OF Ost-
end. the increased activity of the artil-
lery along the Flanders coast seems to
portend important developments in that
area in the immediate future. 1t is
obvious. at least. thai the German COM
mand is IN momentary fear OF re-
newal Of the great Allied drive. both IN
this sector and further TO the south.
The renewal of the great artillery
battle was attended by aerial opera
lions on vast scale. IN which the
British fiers accomplished noteworthy
feats. In one case a body of 1000 Ger
man 4l4dANAs ~ o. N-b ~ --' '''-N''
gun FIRE by British airmen swooping
only a hundred feet above them, and
was scattered completely. Hundreds Of
bombs were dropped on German arr
dromes and bil.ets, and the British
Aiers fred thousands of rounds from
their machine guns at various targets
on the ground. The unprecedented dar-
i~- o. the British airmen at the pres
el.. time indicates TO some extent the
supremacy which they have achieved
since the early days OF the spring.
French bombing squadrons likewise
carried out extensive operations against
the enemy's lines and far beyond them.
Sixteen tons of projcctiles were
dropped on barracks and factories at
Stuttgart, the aviation camp at Co.mar,
depots st Lens and Elbach and military
establishments At Metz, IhlOnvii!e and
SaarburC Eleven machines we're
brought down by French fiers and a
twelfth by guns on the ground.
Ten German Planes Lost
The German hers showed activity,
100. penetrating far behind the British
lines on bombing raids, favored by
strong west wind. During the day ten
German airplanes were shot down by
the British fiers and an additional ma
chine was destroyed by anti-aircraft
guns. Berlin claims the destruction
OF eighteen Allied machines, two Of
them being among a squadron that
bombarded Colmar twice yesterday.
The British War Office admits the loss
OF eight planes.
Although British infantry attacks
IN Flanders failed TO materiaize dur
ing the DAY. there were sharp local en-
gsgcments between the lines before
Ypres. leading 70 the conclusion that
Haig again is nibbling at the enemy's
front in an effort 10 discover the vul-
nerable spots and distract the German
forces.
In the region east Of Arras the Brit
ish infantry carried on their operations
of the day before against the hostile
lines. English and Scottish regiments
advanced southeast of Gavrelle, east Of
Epehy and in the neighborhood Of the
trras- Douai railway penetrated the
German trenches at several points,
Killed many of the enemy IN his dug
outs, destroyed trench mortar emplsce-
ments and other defensive works and
returned with prisoners and machine
guns.
Berlin admits that the British de
.tachments succeeded in reaching the
German trenches, but declares they
we're driven back by rapid counter
thrusts.
Savage Fight on Asne
Fighting on the French front was
marked BY German attacks at several
points and by the same increased in
tcnsity in the artillery battle, account
I'd for by Berlin by the good visibility.
The German report chronicles savage
artillery actions along the Aisne, par
ticularly northeast Of SCISSORS, and in
the Champagne, at Nerdun and near
st. Quentin. In the latter region, the
statement says. the British prepared
"by bursts Of fire" for attacks, which
are asserted TO have broken down com
pietely at every point.
Following violent bombardment, the
Germans launched an attack on the
French positions in the Forest Of
Agreement, in the Ardenues. Some OF
the attackers managed TO establish
themselves in the advanced trench ele-
ments, but they were Immediately eject
ed after spirited fighting, according TO
Paris. An assault at Voilu, in the
Vosges. met the same fate at the hands
81 the French defenders.