Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-05-15
ARTILLERY FIGHT
HEAVY IN SECTOR \ I
\ NEAR MoNTDIDlER
Considerable Activity Re
ported on British Front
in Somrne Region.
HEAVY GUNS ARE s.
BUSY IN FLANDERS.
Counter Attack on French
Successfully Repulsed
Last Evening. IT.

The expected renewal Of the Ger
man offensive having failed to de-
yelop. the allies are continuing their
tactics of anticipating the thrust by
reaching out for new vantage points
from which the better to resist it. $4f
The French were the aggressors in
the last operation of this kind. car
out from their lines south Of Hailles.
on the Somme 'front.' their objective
being a wood situated at about the
point where the Germans had made
their furtherest westward advance.
The operation was entirely success
full, resulting in the capture OF the
wood, on the slopes west Of the Avre
river, possession Of which improves
considerably the allied defensive po-
sition in this important sector.
The Germans evidently recognized
the fact, for they countered strongly
at night. Their determined attack was
a failure, however, for the French
remained in entire control of their
new position, after having cut the
enemy up badly with their fire, be-
sides taking more than three score
prisoners.
The artillery fire is reported. by
north Of Montdidier, just to the south
of this sector, where American troops
are holding a portion of the front.
The bomba.rdment was severe also
!, along the southerly side of the Mont
j didiec salient, az ,farseaA as NoyQf1,
and the Germans attempted to attack
4 at one point on this lineH but were
promptly checked. =
The London statement also indicates
considerable activity by the hostile
artillery on the British portion of the
Somme front, in the Somme and
Ancre valleys, while this morning It
increased in the region between the
Somme and the Ancre, near Morlan-
court, where the Australians recently
yesterday they repulsed a German ef-
fort to recapture the lost ground. ~
On the Flanders battle front the
Germans likewise speeded up their
fire early today in the KENNEL sec
tor, after having worked their guns
moderately hard during the nights on
the southerly side of the Lys salient
in the Bethune and Nieppe wood re-
gians.
In Flanders and Picardy there are
still no indications that the Germans
are ready to resume infantry oper-
ations on large scale. Local enemy
attacks, probably for the purpose of
feeling .out" the allied positions in
advance of big attack, have been
!
Of Albert.
On the southern battlefield the Ger
man effort was made on front Of one
mile near Morlancourt. between the
Somme and Ancre rivers. but was not
pushed strongly. The enemy gained
an initial success and penetrated the
British lines at one point. being re-
by Australian troops fully restored the
British position. The attack north Of
KENNEL was against the French on
hill "A and adjoining elements. The
Germans gained the hill, which domf-
mates the surrounding region. but
Field Marshal Haig reports they were
repulsed finally. (.
Almost week has gone by since the
Germans displayed any marked in
fantry activity and while the attacks
north of KENNEL and south of Albert
apparently were not in great strength,
they were made against the vital Sec
tors OF the two German driven salients
and where the enemy probably will
launch his next heavy attempt or at
T tempts. 1t is not unlikely the attacks
t were made to ascertain the result OF
r the German artillery fire which con-
E tinues exceedingly violent along these
8 sectors. WI
!. Considerable activity is reported TO
y be going on behind the German lines
r Americans hold part of the allied
line. French batteries have broken up
4 German troop concentrations and
4 conveys around Montdidier, rs well IA
n near Noyon. The artillery fire along
z the American zones in Picardy and
8 northwest Of Toul has been below
d normal. ssE
n In the Italian theatre the artillery
r, firing is more lively, especially in; the
ETrentino and on the mountain front