Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-05-23
ALLIED AV|ATORS
DROP EXPLOSIVES
ON RHINE CITIES
American Flyers Take Part
in Air Fighting and Help
Defend London.
FREQUENT RAIDS INTERFERE
WITH HINDENBURG DRIVE
United States Batteries Deliver
Night Gas Attack on En-
eny Near Toul.
FRENCH ACTIVE NEAR SO,fNIE
Heavy Cannonading Reported In
This Region and at Plemont,
Near Noyon.
FRENCH ACTIVE NEAR sO,fNIE
Heavy Cannonading Reported In
This Region and at Plemont,
Near Noyon.

In the past years OF the war. pe-
riod Of extraordinary activity by the
aerial squadrons of the contending
armies in France has been considered
as an indication that events were rap
idly shaping themselves for an often
sire by one side or the other. At the
present moment, the most notable fea.
ture of the war situation Is the re-
markablc work OF airmen in various
sectors where German attack is Look
ed for.
This activity has not been restricted
10 the actual battle area. but far back
of each front there have been daring
raids. The Rhine cities are being fire.
aucntly bombed, while Paris has again
been in danger OF new German nt-
tack from the air.
American aviators have borne n
prominent part in this fighting. In the
Luneville and Toul sectors they have
given magnificent account of them
selves. while further north and even
in the defense OF London they have
demonstrated their fighting capncity,s
GERMANS FORCED TO GIVE
GROUND IN SOME PLACES
The German plans for resumption
of the offensive in France have been
seriously hampercd by the sudden
blows of the allies here and there along
the front The Germans have been
forced back a numerous points and
new lines which may be more easily
defended have been established by tho
allied nations.
The Americans. on their own sectors,
have given the enemy no rest. The
artillery has battered the German lines
u,hi lnf
have raided German outpost positions
and have proved themselves capable of
outwittins and outfightinG the enemy.
General Pershing's men have won SOW
eral hot fights with the foe and havo
captured prisoners. y night gas atS,
tack was loosed on the Germans BY
the Americans near Toul. three waves
or shells drcnching a wooded position
or the enemy with poisonous fumes.
FRENCH WREST VANTAGE
POINTS FROM ENEMY
The French, too. have been at work
in various sectors. particularly In the
Somme region. They gained ground
mere and there at points where posi-
tions OF tactical value were wrcsted
from the Germans -"
Further north the British front has
been fairly quiet, with tremendous
bursts Of artillery fire coming at In.
tervals. The German official statement
says that British attacks at various
points were repulsed Sra
REDISTRIBUTION OF ,st
GERMAN FORCES REPORTED
Reports from the headquarters OF
the french army are that there has
oeen redistribution of German troops
along the entire front. \ German at
81 1rl iG
Somme region. near Albert or on the
Avre River. where the German cannon
have been laundering for several days.
but so far the German general staff
has not shown its hand {ps
1t is known that there are great
masses of troops within striking dis
tancc or the front, and it is believer
that when the enemy is ready to strike
there viii be only brief artillery fras
as Il prelude to the actual assault by
the infantry The last report from
the French War Office mentions heavy
artillery fire in the Somme region and
at Piemont. near Noyon. where there
was traffic lighting early in April.
In their raids at Heburtene. SOUTH
east or trras, and near LOGON and be-
tween Meteren and tho Nieppe forest
In FLANDERS. the British inflicted heavy
"SuditiS oll the IeTfnanS and brought
back numerous prisoners
The important railway city OF
Sethune again was heavily shelIed
with gas by the Germans. The Krupps
also were unusually active on the BEE
sian front, near the sea, the Belgian
heavies doing some effective counter.
battery work.
evidence OF astonishment over thA
strength Of tho British artillery be.
tween Arras and Albert--the front on
which most experts look for the mex,
German blow. and In Flanders-ar,
found in the German War Office state.
ment.
our rear districts" says the report.
again were subjected to heavy Are
on both sides of the Lys and OF Ii
Basseo canal Between Arras ana
ALBERT the enemy artillery also vas
most lively"
BRITIsH BRING nOwS
TWENTY GERMAN AIRPLASEs