The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-05-09
Enemy Gets Into Trenches
of British and French 4
Around KENNEL.
HITS FOR HIGH GROUND
q.
Haig Reports Some of Posi-
tiOns Still Lost, but the
Fighting Continues.
AUSTRALIANS MAKE GAIN
Between the SOmmc and tho
Ancre Their Lines Arc Ad.
vanced at Two Points. ,"

LONDON, May Sin what Field Mar.
shall Haig In his report tonight de-
scrbes as a strong local operation
against the French and British BE-
tween La Clytte and Voormezeels.
back Of Mont KENNEL. the Germans
pierced the Allies line and established
a footing in 1t which they still retain
"at certain points" Gen. IIaig adds.
although heavy fighting was still In
progress when the latest reports wete
sent. At all other points the attacks
we're repulsed. Earlier in the day the
French. by another local operation, had
advanced their line south OF La Clytte
and had taken some prisoners.
The point where the heaviest attack
was delivered Is Immediately south Of
Dickebusch Lake, about midway be-
tween La Clytte. which is held BY tn
poilus, and Noormezeele. which h
guarded by Haig's troops. 1t is sup
posed that at this place the two armies
overlap or intermingle to some extent.
Always d idNOibtc poilt ioi d ocTI04I
attack, as 1t is. in military sense. the
weakest link in the chain.
May Develop Into Attack.
The attack was preceded by an ex-
ceptionally heavy bombardment Of this
region and OF the area west of Bailluel.
further to the west. Although It may
be. as Gen. Haig terms 1t, a local oper-
alton, II may and probably will de-
velop into an attack In force on tho
eastern and western end of the north
side OF the Lys salient in an effort to
envelop and take from the northwest
and northeast tho range Of hills which
have proved a thorn in the side Of the
German army.
So long as the Allies hold this high
ground further advance westward by
the Germans must be out Of the ques-
tion. as such advance would make the
salient perilously deep; yet the posi-
ton OF the Germans on the low ground,
now. under continued rain, one vast
auagmire, is barely tenable, and they
must get out of 1t at any cost either
by taking the high ground or by with
drawing. This is the explanation OF
the long delay in the resumption OF
the German offensive at a time when
speed was of the highest Importance
to the Germans because Of the de-
pressing effect OF their inaction on the
political situation at home.
A correspondent at the front describ
ing the main attack Of the 0erI7,...
against the Franco British junction
! point In Flanders says;
The attack apparently was only II
| divisional strength. but IL NAV deyeloY
larger proportions. The enemy seems Il
| have penetrated our front line hetweer
Dickebusch Lake and Ridge wood, and
; some parties OF Germans are reported ir
the eastern wood itself. The fghtinl
| continues in fine weather and under
good visibility.
| I'VE still hold the major part Of th'
| wood and also kleine Nierstraat, Th'
! technical objective OF enemy operation
/ for thrust toward Scherpenberg from
tne nortneas'' anu IL may prove 20 q
NV, he eu,'',s u iu''"e' "erce "sn'lnS ~
'"'' 'ee'o"
! British Prosress in Pic.rdv.
.
German artillery has been active o'
the southern side or the l.ys salient
: apout LOGON ana itooecn ana near %
/ Julien. On other sectlons OF the pattit
! front IN tlcard! tne briish maze sms u
adNances IN three loca!ltieS petween th'
Somne ana the Ancre'
| Stll further south on the French SEQ
tor there was very great artillery &C
| hNl'N on DOM sldes duf'hg the nisn
both north ana south or the HVre. haio
attempted by the Germans near Thenne
hrn
VT" The Assoctated M Press correspondent