The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-05-26
H|NOEABURG HES|TATES
Attempts to Get Into the
Allied Lines Are Fu-
tile and Costly.
ARTILLERY is SLOW
Experts Begin to Believe
That Germans Have
Lost Their Oppor-
tunity to Win.
IS SLOW

London, May :5.--Hindenburs..
most useful ally. the weather. has
deserted him.
Rains driven down by strong
winds are converting the Flanders
battlefield once more into one vast
uiorass.
As a consequence the last TWEEN
ty-four hours saw even less In
fantry and artillery activity than
has been recorded during the past
two weeks. Both the British and
French scored new local successes
in raids however. the former ut
Hamei. north of Albert. aud nortis
of Lens and the joiIus. west Of
Noyon. near APPLY and in the
"oesre. Prisoners and machine
gums were brought In by the raid
ers. German attempts to make In
roads into the allied lines in vnri-
Gus sectors proved abortiye and
costly.
During the day the German arr
Hllery warmed mp somewhat In the
sector of NiIiers Bretonneux. nine
miles east of Amiens Last night
they had shown more than average
activity I'm Flanders. But siuce
this morning the weather has
meen miserable and the change In
heartily welcomed by the allies,
since 1T means that IL the Ger
mans should choose now to strike
their long postponed blow they.
will have the terrific obstacle II
had roads working against rhem.
He who hesitatea ia LOST in be-
coming more and more the sum-
marixinE description of the ~itua-
ton in the conversation mt the al
XtAH
war correspondents Hindenburg
hesitated fully two weeks too long
now. IL is agreed among experts.
who believe he has missed his
chance 10 achieve even a superf-
ciaI success.
"HipdenhurE." says the critic of
the Evening News, "hesitates TO
deliver the smashing blow that has
heen threatened for nearly a
month. Ii Is known HIS prepara-
tions are complete. For more than
week his army has been stag
nant. We know what generally
follows stagnation."
20 On the Italian front local actfv-
ity ON the mountainous sector be-
tween the Brenta and Ptmve riw-
ers continues. but there have been
no signs of impending major
France. May cS.-Lieutenant A. p.
Craddock. of Lynchburg, Va. COM
handing "A platoon of fourteen pri-
Yates. sergeant and a corporal.
encountered superior force OF
Germans In the outskirts of a sec
tor on the Picardy front held by
the enemy last night. A spirited
hand-to-hand engagement ensued
In which ample use was made of
Grenades and pistols. our men KILL
ing or woanding their opponents.
Craddock. describing the fight. said
4 took a platoon OF two non-co
nissioned officers and fourteen en-
listed men on a reconnaissance throug
dangerous territory. Wet met a stron
orce of Germans, thos III from
promptly openinG up with hand eren
des. while the others entrenched them
elves and blazed away with two ma
hine guns.
1t was hot corner for Us. but m
men stuck like veterans, fightin,
very inch of the way. / am proud O
hem. The Germans winged I'VE or US
'ut none seriously. We pepperad Ri
'oche with hand Erenades and fol
owed this UP with pistols at clos
ange.
Sergeant Combe was at nv side
{e was not scratched. but Just as
brew my last grenade | was strucl
n both legs saw German comm.
Il me and shot him. Then a secont
grenade wounded me in the shoulder
want to praise certain privat'
rom indiana can't think of hi
irst name or residence, He was sho
"a hr,t
ng. He kept emptying and loadins
lis automatic.
The corporal, another gamester
vas shot in the head and knocket
'enseless. When he recovered con
ciousnes he found a German tryin,
O strangle him. He shot the boch,
lead. The fght occurred on a steel
ill where it was necessary for us t,
reep in order to avoid a thick hedge