Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-05-11
Keep Up Heavy Bombard.
ment of Important Sect
Ors of Line.
ALLIES CONTINUE TO
IMPROVE POSITIONS
Hold All Ground Gained in Recent
Counter oHensives = Americans on
Toul Sector Make Successful Raid
4 Active Artillery Firing on Italian and
Macedonian Fronts-ostend Channel
Only Partially Blocked in Raid.

Germany's attacking troops are
still held in leash while the big
enemy guns lombard heavily the
allied lines on tho Flanders and
Sornme battIefields. Southwest Of
Ypres tho Germans have not at
tempted to repeat the futile at
taeks Of Wednesday against the
s=esch snd British between
voormezeIe and Laciytte. Tho
German artillery fire along these
lines, however, 10 violent.
On tho southern leg Of the Lys
salient the Germans are lombard
ing the Robeeq sector land also are
paying attention to the British
positions about vimy ridge on the
Arras front.
On the Somme battlefield the
British have aged in some local
fighting around Avelnuy wood, be-
tween Albert and Arras, and Ber-
lin claims the repuIse Of q local
British attack here. The French
hold on Grivesnes Park, on tho
front south Of tho Sorne, 10 still
secure.
The Germans are shsIiins the
new Frsnch positions intensivsly,
But have not yet attempted counter
!. astAcsss In force. West Of Mont
didisr american sunnsrs have bssn'
ikombA Ardins the Germans in the
v3tat6ss of cantisny and Mssnii
Z q. oeorss. fires resulting. South
or this sector the German guns
have been active between Noyon
and Lassiony.
American troops on the sector
northwest Of Tout assisted the
French in successful raid into
the German positions in Apremont
forest Friday. The American guns
aided the Eseneh, and east Of tho
Sraidsd section American patrols
made 1 diversion by entering tho
village Of Aprement, which was
found TO be deserted.
Whatever move the Germans
MAY be preparing for on the west
ern battle front they are finding
an. active and alert foe confronting
them.
Tho French official statement, il
particular, fairly bristIes with ae-
counts Of intensive artillery and
raiding activities and moro import
ant minor thrusts against the Ger
mans in various sectors.
In addition the latest British av-
iation report indicates such thor
ough command of tho air and that
in ore days fighting twenty seven
machines were brought down while
the British losses were only six
machines.
Rrench troops figured in ono Of
the most telling strokes delivered
by the infantry last night, both in
Flanders and southwest of the
somme. In the former area an
operation was carried out which
advanced the French line some
what in the region Of Locre, an
important holding against Hanking
operations directed at Mont Rouge.
British troops hade . successful
raid near MerviIle, to tho west Of
this area.
Or the southern battle front, be-
sides carrying out several profitable
raids, the French bit into tho Ger
man line on the front between
Montdidisr and Noyon. An apprs-
ciable gain Of ground was made
hero northeast Of orviIIers. sorel,
sever miles southeast Of Montdid-
Ter.
There are indications that tho
Germans have run into Serious
trouble a. the result Of their re-
cent high handed action in
Ukraina. The people arc reported
70 have turned against the occupy
Ing forces, and dispatches from
Dutch sources reported that 6avan-
ian cavalry dstachments are being
withdrawn from the western front
and sent TO Ukraine.
Active artillery firing 10 going
on in some sectors Of the, Italian
and Macedonian fronts. There
, also have bsen patrol engagements
on these fronts but no heavy fight
ing. ~ n -
Lying from toV 70 WV ydroS
within the entrance Of the harbor
~ Ostsnd ths old British cruiser
vindietivs. K 10 believed, will
hamper the passage Of German
dsstroysrs. Whether sho will be
able TO keep the submarines from
coming in and going out 10 not yet
esrtain, but she serves useful
purpose Of narrowing the subma.
rins passsse. Free action Of the
tides and the movement Of silt
/. against the old hG1k will tend
svsntualiy to elote UP the passage
unlesS the Germans can remove
the ohstruction readily.
london. MAY H.. French troops I'D
- y a. \