New-York tribune., 1918-05-12

more intense than any which had
preceded it in this offensive, and a
very large proportion of the shells
thrown were gas shells. Both these
teatures-the increasing intensity of
the bombardment and the increasing
proportion of gas shells used-havc
been noted in the last few actions in
Flanders. The use of gas, in fact.
was so intense and continuous that
most of the defending forces lived
and slept in their gas masks for the
better part of two days.
Thirteen German attacking divi-
sions, eleven Of which have been
identified (including the 4th Bava-
rian, the 2Sd Alpine Corps, the 7th,
S5th and 49th Reserve and the seth
and Sd Guard Corps), were organ
lied under two corps commanders
and were launched to the attack
shortly after daybreak in a dense
MIST. The first shock produced two
temporary German successes.
BY one of these the British were
pushed out of Voormezeele, but the
attack was held up by the wood to
the west of that village, which the
Germans failed to take. The effect
Upon the battle Of this partial and
shallow advance was not great.
Thrust Endangered
Whole Allied Line
But the other German success was
of more value and might have had
great results. It was conducted
probably by the Alpine Corps al
ready mentioned, acting with the
Bavarians. 1t carried Locre village
and was pushed right up to the cross
roads three-quarters of mile be-
yond, which the British had christ
ened Clyde Park Corner"
This thrust was exceedingly se-
rious. 1t turned the French left, put
in a wedge between the French and
British forces on this part of the
front, got right on the flank of the
range of hills against which this
whole German attack was aimed, and
almost succeeded in penetrating the
plain beyond and thus threatening
an exceedingly hasty and expensive
retreat of the British forces to the
northeast in the Ypres salient.
French Recover
More Than They Lost
The whole of this first rush and
the critical situation which it caused
occupied no more than the earliest
hours of the day. Long before noon
the French had organized counter
attack which was singularly success
full. 1t not only retook the cross
roads, but got back the whole of the
village of Locre, and finally pushed
on beyond, driving the enemy to
points actually within those from
which he first started. 1t was a
clear-cut success in a "war of move
ment," the action taking place in the
open, like that of the old battles of
the Marne.
Meanwhile the smaller and less
important enemy thrusts to the east
at Voormezeele had been held, and
the remainder of the day-all that
afternoon up to dusk-was taken up
with innnumerable local concentra-
tions of troops on the part of the
enemy; sometimes broken before
they could attack; sometimes broken
in the course of the attack; but all
destroyed before they could have any
effect upon the now restored defen-
sive line.
Afternoons Fighting
Costs Germans Dearly
1t was this afternoon of fighting
that was so exceptionally costly to
the Germans, and from the nature of
the situation and the fact that the
attacks nowhere got home it was
correspondingly less expensive to the
Allies.
Certain details of it which have
now reached London explain the
character Of the fighting and it's re-
suits. For instance, one regiment,
firing across the open glacis of fields
stretching down to the KENNEL
Brook, had opposite them all the af-
ternoon portions of the Sd Guard
division. These forces had to assem-
bic as best they could in the ruined
huts on the opposite rise beyond the
brook, which rise was formed by the
first slopes of Mount KENNEL.
After making their assemblies in
these huts, with very great loss of
life in passing across the open
ground to reach them, the Prussian
Guard had to attempt an advance