New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-29
Bring Down 81 Aeros as
Guns Pound Enemy's
Lines
Germans Capture
Champagne Trenches
Paris Reports Defeat of
Violent Counter
Attacks

London, May 2S.-Despite the pre-
vailing lull on the West front and be-
hind the official secrecy there were
strong hints to-day that the British,
and perhaps the French also, are on the
eve of a renewed offensive. The actual
fighting was confined TO raids and coun-
ter raids, with brisk skirmishing be-
tween Bullecourt and Cherisy and gren-
ade eombats in the Champagne. But
the big guns were in heavy action along
the Searpe and on the French front as
far eastward as Verdun, and the Allied
airmen displayed an almost feverish
activity.
British fiers on the Arras battlefield
nut twenty-three German planes out OF
action, thirteen Of them being COM
plctely DESTROYED. The War Office state
ment mentions numerous battles in the
air and Berlin reveals that the British
pjlots are again driving far back OF the
enemy lines. Paris reports that nine
German machines were demolished yes
terday. and two we're forced to land
within the French lines. while others
were driven down out Of control in nos
tile territory. During French bombing
raids over German military establish
ments 400 pounds of explosives were
dropped. The Germans claim TO have
shot down a dozen Allied fiers and two
observation balloons.
Germans Take French Trenches
Last night there were three deter
mined attempts by the forces OF the
Crown Prince to retake the observation
positions lost 10 the French on the
heights OF the Champagne. They deliv-
cred two,attacks on the Casque and the
Teton, commanding crests in this re-
gion. and toward daylight followed with
another on Mont Blond. Paris declares
these assaults were stopped short. but
Berlin announces line OF French
trenches was taken, with 25O prisoners
Bomb fighting continued IN the
Champagne to-day, indicating that the
French lost little ground. The con-
centration of German heavy batteries
against Hill BOA and Dead Mans nm
en- the Verdun front may foreshado"
an enemy feint in that direction. paris
recounts a successful raid in Aisace.
The small engagements on the brit-
ish front to-day were interesting pIIh-
cipally as signposts toward the future;
Lively combats between Cnerisy am
puIlecourt. revealed in the German Of
fciaI statement and mentioned as "hos-
tile raids in the British bulletin, sug-
onst that General Haig is still trying
10 force an evacuation of the isolated
mile or so of the Hindenburg trench
system still held by the enemy west OF
Bullecourt.
British Raids Successful
The British are also raiding the Ger
man lines from Lens almost TO Ipres,
in Belgium. Haig's men carried out
successful thrusts north OF Armen-
there's. at Vermelles and near Wyt-
schaete, in Belgium, where they
reached the German support lines and
took more than score OF prisoners:
German raids were repealed south OF
Lens and above Ypres. The German
nervousness along the line from Loos
northward suggests that they rear halg
is planning a blow on this front.
On the Arras front the British have
now cleared away all obstacles against
their advance to the Queant-Drocourt.
or Wotan line. except for mile OF old
trench fertilization northwest OF
Oueant. the similar stretch near Bulle-
court, a few improvised defences on
the Sensee River, a small tributary OF
the Scarpe. and the towns OF Oppy and
| Fresnoy, considerably north OF the
| Scarpe.
With these barriers taken. the Brit
| ish will be upon Hindenburg's last i'm
portant defences before Douai. Even
now. in the valley of the Scarpe. there
is a twelve-milo stretch Of country
whore the Wotan line lies practically
open TO the British fire.
No one knows what reserves Of men
and guns Hindenburg has accumulated
behind his lines. but so far as position
goes the Germans east of Arras are in
the most precarious situation they have
occupied on the West front since the
race for the sea after the Battle Of the
Marne