The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-05-10
BOTTLE Up HUNS
U-BOAT HARbOR
IN NIGHT RAID
OLD CRUISER VINDICTIVE IS
SENT IN AND SUNK
CASUALTIES FEW.
FILLED WITH CONCRE TE
English Repeat Attempt Made on
April %, and This Time the Ger
mans Submarine Base Is Choked
Successfully, Admiralty Reports,

SuCCCSSiuIlyJ HuilIild any NSfSi 'S'
London, May 10.-The German
submarine base OF Ostend on the
Belgian coast has been blocked as
the result of a new raid by British
naval forces, the admiralty an
nounces. The obsolete cruiser Vim
dictive, filled with concrete, has
been sunk across the entrance TO
the harbor.
The British lost one motor boat.
Their casualties were light.
The announcement follows:
corporations designed to close the
ports of Ostend and Zeebrugge
we're successfully completed last
ight when the obsolete cruiser Vim
tive was sunk between the piers
and across the entrance to Ostend
rbor. Since the attack on lee
ruggc April 25, the Nindictiye had
oeen filed with concrete as block
snip lot TINS pulpOSS'
"Our light forces have returned
20 their base with the loss Of one
motor launch which had been dam
rged and was sunk by orders Of the
vice-admiral in order to prevent II
from falling into the hands Of the
enemy. Our casualties were light.
Great Britain's naval triumph OF
April q at Zeebrugge, when the
important German submarine base
on the Belgian coast was apparently
blocked by the sinking Of the con-
crcte-laden ships during a daring
raid, has been virtually duplicated
at Ostend. another valuable base tor
the U-boats. just to the cast. The
feat was accomplished by the sink
ing last night Of the old cruiser
Vindictive, likewise filled with con-
crete. across the entrance to Ostend |
harbor.
Ostend was originally attacked
for this purpose at the same time as
was Zeebrugge, but the blocking
vessels sent in there went slightly /
off their course, and their success
was not equal to that attained at
Zeebrugge. The operations begun
with a view to closing these two
ports, the admiralty announces. now
have been Successfully completed.
Hits Huns Hard.
The importance OF the blnckin~
operations lies in the fact that, if
they have been successful as be-
lieved, the Germans have been de
prived of both their Belgian bases.
and they will now be forced to re-
vert. for some time at least, to their
own home ports as starting and re
turning points for their undersea
raiders. These craft would, there
fore. have to traverse far longer.
more difficult and more dangerous
routes to attain their cruising |
grounds, with the consequent in
crease BY many times the chances OF
their being turned back or de-
stroyed.
The land fighting OF last night
also brought success to both the
British and the French. In the case
of the former the action took the
form OF a British counter-attack
upon the bit of ground the Ger
mans took yesterday IN the Albert
sector. northeast OF Amiens, Field ,
Marshal Haig's troops gained a
complete victory. restoring the posi-
lion intact and taking prisoners.
French Success Highly Important. ,
The French success still was ,
more important, as it represented a
net gain of ground for the allies on /
he Somme front. In an intensive
operation. heralded by a brief but
ieavy bombardmeni. the French ,
-aptured Griyesncs Park. five miles
iorth of Montdidier. and held their q
,wn against counter-attacks by the
iermans. taking $50 prisoners dur
NC the fighting.
The Germans have held an i'm
,ortant section OF this park, which
.djoins the town OF Griyesnes on 2
he cast and Is just TO the month OF :
he sector where American troops
lave been reported fighting in the .
'ieardy battle. a
London. MAY l0.-Regarding re- "
,orts that German submarines have o
zen unable TO enter Flemish ports p
nd have had to return 10 Ger
many, Reuters Limited says If Is o
Inabie to obtain information u c
avail quarters. ~