The Washington herald., 1918-05-08
Artillery Monopolnes Field
as Won Arnnn Still
Holds Back.
GERMANS FEEL OUT
FOR WEAKEST SPOT
Feints at Various Points
Seem to Indicate Arras
Attack.

London, May 7.-It 10 now eight
days since Won Arnim's shock
troops broke their heads against
the Anglo-French wall in Flanders,
and still he has not recovered
sufficiently to renew the attempt
to reap the fruits of KENNELS
capture.
Again the day was monopolized
by the big guns; again the British
and French heavies registered as
much spunk and fervor az their
Teuton barkers opposing them. Il
is this increasingly effective allied
counter battery work that is add
ing daily to the confidence here
that when the next blow is struck
by Hindenburg il will be a boom
erang, as the one in Flanders a
week ago yesterday.
Haig reports tonight that the
srtilleries of both sides were very
active north of the Lys. He adds
that some activity was displayed
by the guns on other parts q iae
battlefronts, which indicate fhst
the Germans are about reafr se
new massed drive, and q ~.
ginning the familiar & as
process, trying to find sre
spot in the allied lines.
Germans Admit Reverse
A partial admission OF the A st1ei-
JAMS Sunday night success AZ Her
lancourt when they advanced --sss
than quarter Of a mile south eaa
southwest Of that town, came araI.t
the Berlin war ofics today. -
mention OF this action begins srsa
the usual emphasis that Austr Z s.ts
were employed by the Brftif fer
an attack. II is conceded thar the
Anzacs reached the German foremost
lines on both sides OF the Corbie-
Bray road, but Berlin asserts the
twice repeated assault otherwise
broke down before our posts with
heavy losses"
The statement also records q Ger
man raid across the Aisne Canal
south OF Brimont northwest Of
Rheims)
Brilliant Canadian Raid.
Field Marshal Haigs day bufs.n
told OF brilliant raid by the Cana
dians near Neuville-Vitasse, south
west OF Arras. They took prisoners
ana three machine guns, suffering
\ only slight casualties, while killing
many Germans and causing great
havoc in the Teuton defenses, A
German raid near BoyeIIes was beat
en- on
From the French front the various
| ofhcial statements today reporredS
only heavy gun actions.
Military opinion in the last few
days has been reverting TO the theory
that the next German blow will be
struck at Arras. II is pointed out
that this important pivot. with the
famous Vimy Ridge. now lies pocket
ed between the two German wedges
the one threatening Amiens, and the
other pointing at Hazebrouck and
Bethune.
Must Hold VImy.
As long as Vimy is held nv Hsir.
the 1anks OF the German wedges will
be constantly in danger. while once
| Nlmy Is taken the whole British front
between the wedges may be compelled
TO draw westward almost TO a level
with the fronts facing the two spear
heads. Gen. Won Below is presistentIy
mentioned as the most likely pilot OF
| the next German drive. The best
estimate is that Hindenburg still has
close to sooooo troops that can be used
in the new stroke.
The allies. under Foch's central
command. are ready for every possible
contingency. and the confidence every
where is supreme that the next Ger
man try will end in failure. and will
tell the German people convincingly
that 'it can't be done"
Globes Comment.
The Globes correspondents has this
TO say about the situation at the
front:
The prolonged calm on the West
front deceives no one. An ominous
storm is brewing. Rain possibly has
delayed the enemy preparations, but
II is believed they are nearly COM
plete. The enemy can hardly find any
reason for thinking us either weak or
discouraged