Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1918-05-16
General Petain's Troops NibbIe
Hun Lines at Several Points
and improve Their
Own Positions.
BRITISH DOMINATE AIR
Hindenburg Apparently Not
Quite Ready to Resume Major
Operations-Allies Down
81 Enemy Planes.
BY Associated Press,

-
Whatever big move the Germans
may be preparing for on the western
front they are finding an active and
alert Zoe confronting them.
The French official statement in
particular, bristles with accounts Of
intensive artillery and raiding ac-
tlvities! and more important minor
th1tist9 against the Germans in various
sectors. In addition the latest British
aviation report indicates suc thorough
command of the aic that in one days
fighting 81 German machines were
brought down. while the British losses
were only six.
French troops figured in the most
telling strokes delivered by tho infan-
try last night. both III Flanders and
south of the Somlnc.
In the former area an operation was
carried out which advanced the French
line some what in the region east of
Locre, an important holding point
against Thanking operations directed at
Mont Rouge. British: troops made a
successful rail- near Ar~Iel'viile, to the
west of this area.
On the southern battle front, be-
sides carving out several profitable
raids, the French bit int the German
line on tho front between Mcntdidier
and Noyon. An appreciable gain of
ground was made here northwest of
Orvillers-Sorel. seven miles southeast
of Montdidier.
On the southern leg Of the Jys sail
ent the Germans are bo1nbarding Ro-
becq sector and also are paying at
,ention to the British positions about
VinlN ridge on the NrraS front.
On The Somnle battlefield the Brit
i.h nave engaged in some local fight
ms around Avelly wood, between AL
bert and Ar Is, and Berlin claims the
repnise of q local British attack here.
Inc French mold On Grivesnes park.
on The front south of the Sonnle, is
still secure. The Germans arc Smelling
the new French positions intensely.
put nave no Yet attempted counter at
American sulners have been bonn
harding the Germans in the villages
OF C~antiSny- ard NIc:niI st. Georges,
tires resulting.
South of this sector the German
guns have been active between Noyon
end Lassisny.
American troops on the sector north
west Of Toui assisted the French i'll
q successful raid into the German poz
sitlons in Ap-emont forest. The Amer
lean guns aided the French and east
OF the raided section, American patrols
made a diversion by entering the viii
lage OF Apremont, which was found 10
be deserted.
Active artillery firing is going
on some sectors of the Italian and
Ni0CSoO1liAli liOiitS, luCT6 also DaNc
been patrol engagements on these
fronts, but no heavy fighting,
ARTILLERY FIRE HEAVY.
Paris, May 13.--IIeavy artillery fight
ing on the front below Amiens. in tbs
region Of Grivesnes III Mailly-Ealna
val is reported in toaay's offic;a. cc:l-
,nunication.
h French gained gro.nd on tho
southern side of the I'icardy battle
front near OrFillers- Sorel, southeast of
Montdidier.
The statement follows:
During the night very spirited
artillery fighting continued all along
shs front in the region of Grivcanes
and Mailly-Raineval. North Of Griv-
esnes our troops carried out u raid and
sook 15 prisoners. In a local operation
at Mareuil wood, northwest OF Orvil-
we made an anpreciablc
gain of ground. Thirty-nine prisoners
ard several machine guns fell into our
hands.
"A German counter attack was brok-
IN up completely by our fire.
French detachments made several
1ncursions into the German lines. es~
peelally southeast CT Montlidier.
northeast of Thiaucourt, in the sector
of Sapignuel and in the Woevre taking
prisoners and material.
There is nothing to report elsewhere
on the front
FRENCH IMPROVE LINE.
London. May I3.-Errench troops
var their line slightly Yesterday
evening east OF Locre on the FLANDERS
front. the war office announces.
The statement follows:
french troops advanced their lines
slightly yesterday evening east of
Locre and captured several prisoners.
We carried successful raids dur
ing the night west of Melville, ana
brought back a few prisoners and ma
chine guns. A rail- attempted by the
enemy asst Of Ypres was topped bv
our fire"
DOWN q HUN PLANES,
+. n May 11.-Cloudless weather
On Thursday favored the British avi-
etors, according to an official state
inent Issued today, dealing with air nc
tivlttes and e German machines were
downed and IL driven down out OF con-
trc1.