The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1918-05-23

While Infantry Rests the Heavy
Artillery Keeps Busy Along
the Entire Line.
AMERICANS ARRIVE IN FORCE
Allied Lines Everywhere Being Re-en-
forced to Meet Expect Attack
Premier cIemenceau Satisfied.

Washington, May Still another
day has passed without the Germans
on the western front attempting to
commence new phase of their often
sITe. Everywhere along the line there
have been artillery duels, at some
points of considerable intensity, and
the allied armies are lying in their
positions waiting with expectancy,
and also with perfect confidence, the
blow they realize soon viii fall at
some point in Flanders or Picardy.
Nowhere has there been any infan-
try operations which arose in import
ance above raids. Southwest of Ar
ras, near NeuviIle-Vitasse, the Cana
dams Monday night carried out a
successful stroke, killing a number Of
Germans and capturing three ma
chine guns. The French in the Amiens
sector also were successful in q SINH
lar maneuver. In addition they re-
pulsed an attempted German attack
The Front Is Morass.
Doubtless the heavy ground due to
the rains is holding back the prepare
tions Of the Germans, for it is no easy
task to move up men, guns and sup
plies over the mOrass in the shell fur
rowed territory TO the front Mean
while the allied line everywhere is be
ing REINFORCED to meet the enemy
when again he unleashes his infantry
forces. The Americans are taking a
prominent part in this Strengthening
of the line. NJ Clemenceau, the
French premier, who has just return
ed to Paris from a visit to the battle
front, is authority for the statement
that American troops are continuing
to arrive in the battle zone in force.
Artillery Action on the Lys.
London, May Sour own and the
enemy's artillery have been very &C
tive north of the Lys and have shown
some activity on other parts of the
battle fronts" says Field Marshal
Haig's report from British headQuar-
tiers in France tonight. There is
nothing further to report"
Allies Harass Germans.
Washington, May 7.-Australian and
Canadian troops are in action on the
British lines along the vital sectors of
the battle front in France.
The Australians have struck the
Germans near Morlancourt between
the Ancre and Somme rivers, east of
Amiens and have advanced their lines
upward of three-QuaTters of a mile, as
a result Of two assaults upon the leu
tonic positions. The Canadians have
appeared in the Arras sector, farther
south than they have been since the
battles in this region began March 81.
This part of the line is most import
ant as it defends Arras to the south
west and includes localities such as
Neuville-Vitasse, MercateI and Bots
leaux-St Marie, where there have
been bitter struggles since the Ger
mans launched their great offensive.
Rain Checks Fighting.
From the official reports and spe-
cial dispatches filed by correspon-
dents at the front there come intima-
lions that heavy fighting may be re-
sumed at any time. The fact that
heavy rains are falling may have a
great deal to do with the delay in the
German drive, but the Allies hold
high ground from which they can OBJ
serve the German positions that are
SOuCIdlAl III ll4S INV loIOSF anu nav
kept up a heavy artillery fire in sec
tors where the Germans have been
assembling or have been at work
bringing up guns for the battle that is
virtually certain to come
Gassed the Americans.
With the American Forces en- the
French Front, May THE Germans
launched a heavy gas attack against
the American troops on the Picardy
front last night Early in the even
ing they sent over fifteen thousand
shells, composed chiefly of mustard
gas, within a brief period These
shells were followed by an intense az
tillery fire at midnight Several hun
dred gas shells were dropped into the
American lines
Italians Expect Hun Drive.
Washington, May 6.-OFer the bat
tie lines along the Piave River and IL
the mountainous region in northern
Italy, where the allied forces have
been holding their positions since last
November after the great Italian re
treat from the Isonzo, there is in
creased tension and the long threat
ened blow at this front may be
launched by the Teutonic Allies with
IN few days.