The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-05-06
BRITISH AND
FRENCH MAKE
SLIGHT GAINS
IN FLANDERS
Renewal of Hun Drive on the
Western Front to Be Made
Simultaneously with Push
Against Italians, Belief.
HUNS PLANS ARE UPSET
(By Associated Press)

10Y AsSOCadteQ fTeSS)
Germany has not yet taken up the
offensive in the west and probably an.
other effort against the allied armies
is held in abeyance to be made stimuli
taneously with the heralded Austro-
Hungarian drive against the Italians.
In preparation for further enemy
attacks on the Flanders battle field,
the British and French have been i'm
proving their positions in local opera-
tions. The allied troops in an attack
between Locre and Drancourt have
advanced their line 500 yards on a
front of one thousand yards, gaining
positions which strengthen the i'm
portant section of the front between
Scherpenberg and Mont Rouge. Ger
man counter-attacks were repulsed
with loss. ! Berlin reporting on the
same fighting, attempts to make out
the attacks were made in large force,
1t says they were repulsed and that
the French lost 300 prisoners.
On the southern leg of the Lys salt
ent, which is the one the Germans
must attack if they wish to connect
this battle field with the one in Pic
ardy by wiping out the Arras salient,
the Germans have made no further at
tempts to push back the British from
their gains at Hinges, earlier efforts
having failed. The artillery fire con-
tinues most intense on both legs OF
the Lys salient and south of the
Somme. in Picardy.
Further safe guarding of the south-
ern side of the Lys salient was affect
ed by the British last night through
local operation which resulted in the
improvement of the British positions
near LOGON, north of Bethune
Push on Italy HeraIded
The coming of a strong push on the
Italian front is heralded officially from
Vienna, which announces that Emper-
or Charles and his military advisers
are now on the front In the Trentino.
and the Tyrol there have been large
movements of enemy troops Rome
does not report any marked infantry
lighting, nor does Vienna, but the
Italian war office notes a great in
crease in the violence of the Austrian
artillery fire. especially on the Tren-
tino front, where the new attack prob
ably will come in an effort to force the
Italians from the Piave line Aerial
activity in northern Italy is intense
Emperor Charles leaves his capital
for the fighting front at a time when
Austria is seething with political IN
rest. In Bohemia and all parts of his
domains the Liberals are protesting
against his action in dimsissing par
lament. 1t is announced in a pam
German Berlin newspaper that the
German food department has taken
over contrc! of most of Bohemia in
response to the demands of the Ger
man population" Three members of
the Austrian cabinet are reported to
have resigned.
American troops on both the Toul
and Lunevj.le sectors have been more
busy than usual with the Germans.
Northwest of Toul the Germans at
tempted to occupy trench formerly
held b ythe Americans and which was
evacuated month ago. The Ameri-
can artillery broke up the German ef-
fort, but further activity is not un-
expected. East of Luneville the Ger
mans have been driven from their
front line positions by the American
gunfire and patrol has penetrated
three hundred yards into the enemy
lines. The Americans met a German
party of seven. Three were killed and
the others were taken prisoners.
Arrangements Upset.
IL Was quiet apparent the HeTIEdnS
intended another assault in Flanders
yesterday morning, but the arrange
ments were upset by a combination of
events There were the allied opera
tions and the heavy rain which con-
verted the ground into mud flats over
which it was difficult to move either
infantry or artillery. There was also
confusion arising from wholesale re-
liefs and the arrival of strange troops
in the German area.
The allied artillery has been main
tanning an incessant bonn bardment OF
enemy territory and Friday night be-
fore the projected German attack the
French and British gunners played
havoc with the German preparations.
The allied troops also have been car
rying out local operations which i'm
proyed their lines and upset enemy
schemes.
Yesterday the British occupied .
large number important positions at
Continued on Page Twelve.)