Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-02
GERMAN ACTIVITY
F0RESHADOWS NEW
DRIVE ON SOMME
French Follow Americans in
RepuIsing Enemy Thrusts
Toward Amiens.
lULl STILL PREVAILS
ON FLANDERS FRONT
Teutons Bring Up Men and Guns,
But Allies Await Blows With
: Confidence.


: Confidence.
! The Germans are displaying in.
.ereased activity on the Somme
battle front And around the Mont
ididier salient to Noyon, probably
lin preparation for renewal OF
their offensive in this area.
| Checked last week by the stiff
British and Franco-American re-
eistance to their attempt to push
further toward Amiens, the enemy
forces are now engaged in try
ing out various portions of the
southern front, in the apparent
endeavor to find weak spot.
One such effort, directed
against positions held by Ameri-
can troops, has already been
fhronic1ed in the news dispatches.
Fhe enemy found an unyielding
barrier here and retired with moth
ing but heavy losses to show for
his attempt.
Last night there was similar
thrust at the French in the
Themes region, southwest OF
Hangard. The artillery promptly
broke up this drive.
German Guns Open Up.
This morning the German guns OPEN
Cd up rather heavily in the villers-
Bretonneux area, just north and direct
1y east of Amiens. but no infantry at
tacks had developed up to the time the
British official statement was issued At
noon.
Meanwhile the lull that followed the
severe German defeat Of Monday has
continued on the Flanders front. Only
the artillery has been displaying activ-
ity there.
The German guns were reported
opening up a somewhat spirited fire
this morning in the region of Merris
indicating the possibility that the re-
newal Of the German effort on the
northern front. when it comes. may be
developed along the Bailleul-Haze-
brouck road, on whfth Merris marks
the furthest westward advance of the
hou t,n
this line strongly. as guarding the
direct route to the vitality important
aazebrouck railway Junction
Waiting on More Troops.
Apparently the Germans are not pre-
pared to reopen the Flanders battle
until still more troops and greater con.
centrations Of cannon are massed along
the few important miles Of the front
southwest Of Ypres. Signs are not want
Ing that Gen. Won Arnim is bringing
Anglo-French troops, stirred by the
brilliant repulse Of the enemy which
caused him to cease his attacks for the
second time. wait confidently.
was followed by stronger attacks. il is
probable that only the dificuities Of
transport and supply compel the enemy
to withhold further assaults against the
allied positions from the Mont Kemmej
KENNEL and q small strip to the east
including the Messines ridge, the Ger
mans are on much lower ground than
the French and British and must effha,
nght on or be compelled eventually to
withdraw before the smotherinr fira NJ
the allied artillery. "f' u
Attacks on French Fail.
PARIS May IA German attack ,a.,
hight on the Themes sector failed. the
Ssoeh war once announced this after,
Seon. French troops made raids ON Ia
kYdonehsl and west Of Coucy le Chateau
S1he statement follows,
North Of the Avrs q German attack
On French positions in the region ~
Themes was broken up by the French
ara
Other German efforts, north al
Chavfgnon and northwest of Rheims
gained no greater success.
Ihe french carried out a number OF
raids. especially near LIE Monchel wesi
OF Coucy le Chateau and north Of POM
prisoners.
"on the remainder of the front tn.
night passed in quiet" 'A>
Last Nights Report.
PARIS. May 1.-The war Office an
uOuHCtIneHl tonight says:
There is nothing to report dur4nt
the course of the day except quit.
lively bombardments in the rextoI
north of Montdidier.
April 80 Sub-Lieut. Guerin brouRh
down his twentieth enemy machine.
German Guns Active.
LONDON. May 2.-The German .rt;I
!sry became active this morning in tn
vfllers-Bretonneux sector. on tn
Amiens front. and In the neighborhoo,
Of Merris. on the Flanders front, il Il
announced omcial1y.
The statement reads:
The enemys artillery developed con
siderable activity early this mornin,
IN the Vtllers-Bretonneux sector an,
in the neighborhood of Merris. Som
activity was shown also during tn
night in the Arras. Lens and st. Venan
sectors. No infantry action is report
ed"
German Statement.
BERLIN. via London. May FIRES
French forces have vainly attempted a,
advance against Dranoutre. Their as
sault, several times repeated, brok
down. according to the German officia
communication issued today. The com
munication reads:
Western theater-In Flanders tn
firing duel in the I.ocre and Dranoutr
sectors revived to greater intensity
French forces. thrown fresh into tn
battle. attempted vaihly to press for
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