Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-05-18
H|nDENBURG WATTS,
THE ALLIES WATCH,
AIRMEN STRIKE
Every Days Delay Brings More
and More American Fighters to
Strengthen Lines Of Entente.
HUNS LOSE 45 PLANES

Associated Press Summary. issued st ] a n
Fair weather during the last few days
and great increase IN aerial activity
have not yet resulted IN a renewal Of
heavy fighting. The artillery duets 60
on, most violent on important sectors,
but neither the German infantry nor
artillery displays the activity which
usually marks the coming Of blow against
the Allied lines.
The enemy, it is believed in London.
Is preparing for a mighty attack greater
IN force if possible than the smash on
March II along the so mile front south
ward from Arras. The Germans, how
ever, are having difficulty in filling up
their greatly depleted ranks, some dI-
visions having lost more than fifty per
cent--one seventy per cent-0f their
electives in the, recent fighting.
ALLIES HARRAss GERMANS
In addition the Allied artillery IS
causing havoc with German preparations
near the front lines while their railway
stations and blllets behind the lines art
under an almost continuous ram OF bombs
dropped by Allied airman.
Enemy artillery and manpoWCr con-
centrations probably become stronger as
Field Marshal Won Hindenburg delays \
new advance, but the Allied deienses
gain strength in the same ratio and q
new source Of fighting power, the American
army grows III power. General PershIng 5
men are now on both the important
battlefronts Flanders and Plcardy, but
in what numbers it is not disclosed.
DAILY GAINING STRENGTH.
Their coming, however. is having \
great moral effect on the British and
French and the longer the Germans delay
the greater will the American aid become
Aerial activity IS the most prominent
feature of the news from the lighting
zones French and British aIrmen have
dropped many more tons of explosives
on enemy military targets while the Ger
mans are becoming more active IN attempt
to get behind the allied lines. In aerial
fighting the British have brought down
! 35 German machines, while British guns
accounted for ten more. Berlin claims
the destruction of Is allied alrplanes
Another attempt TO raid Paris Friday
night failed.
On the American sectors of MontdIdIer,
i Toul and Lorraine the aerial fighting also
has increased The American positions
in Picardy and in Lorraine are being
bombarded heavily by the Germans.
The artillery fire has fallen off IN the Toul
sector, but American patrols are active
+ there
.tPUT DOWN sINN FEM PLOT,
A plot in the interests Of Germany
has been discovered III Ireland. An
nouncement of this latest development
/ in Irish affairs WAS made in proclama-
ton issued by the Lord lieutenant calling
on all loyal Irishmen to aid the govern
ment In putting down the conspiracy
-Four prominent Slnn Fem leaders, includ-
ing Professor De Valera, the president,
! has been arrested as well as Dr. Dillon.
The Sinn Feiners were active III the Dublin
revolt in Easter week of 1916.
The proclamation calls upon the Irish
to enlist voluntary TO aid IN the main
tenanee Of the government and says
measures will be taken to facilitate such
recruiting This may be an indication
that the government has decided not t.
enforce CONSUMPTION at once