The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1918-05-23
AIR ACTIVITIES
Presage Another Great Offensive by
the Huns on the Western Front.

London, May 22 The Germans
made another attempt to raid the
British positions near Mesnil, but
were repulsed, according to Field
Marshal Haig's report tonight from
British headquarters in France. The
British carried out a raid on the Ger
man positions around Hebuterne with
heavy casualties to the Germans.
The summarization of war news,
based upon cablegrams received srom
all European battlefronts up to late
hour in the night, follows:
In the past year of the war; a period
of extraordinary activity by the aer-
ial squadrons of the contending arm
les in France has been considered as
an indication that events were rapidly
shaping themselves for an offensive
by one side or the other. At the
present moment, the most notable fea-
ture of the war situation is the re-
markable work of airmen in various
sectors where a German attack is
looked for.
This activity has not been restrict
ed to the actual battle area, but far
back of each front there have been
daring raids The Rhine cities are
frequently bombed, while Paris has
again been in danger of a new Ger
many attack from the air.
American aviators have born a
prominent part in this fighting. In
the Luneville and Toul sectors, they
have given a magnificent account Of
themselves, while further north and
even in defense of London, they have
demonstrated their fighting capacity.
The German plans for a resump-
ton in France have been seriously
hampered by the sudden blows of the
allies here and there along the front
The Germans have been forced back
at numerous points and positions
which have been more easily defend
ed have been taken by the allies. In
their owr sector, the Americans have
given the enemy no rest. In the ar
tilery battles, they have battered the
Germans night and day while the in
fantry men have raided the German
outpost positions and have proved
themselves capable of out-witting and
out-fghting the enemy. General Per-
shing's men have won several hot
fights with the foe and have captured
prisoners A night gas attack was
looeed on the Germans by the Amer
leans near Toul. three waves of shells
drenching a wooded position of the
enemy with poisonous fumes.
The French, too. have been at work
in various sectors, particularly in tn"
Somme region. They have gained
ground here and there at points where
positions of tactical value were wrast-
ed from the Germans
Further north the British front has
been quiet, with tremendous bursts
of artillery fire coming at intervals
The German official statement says
that British attacks at various points
were repulsed
Reports from the headquarters of
the French army are that there has
been a redistribution of German
troops along the entire front A Ger
man attack is expected soon, probably
in the Somme region near Albert or
on the Avre river, where the German
cannon have been laundering for sew
eral days, but so far the German gen.
eral staff has not shown its hand. 1t
is known that there are great masses
Of troops within striking distance Of
the front, and 1t is believed that when
the enemy is ready to strike there
will be only brief artillery fire as a
prelude to the actual assault by the
infantry. The last report from the
French war office mentions heavy ar
tlllery fire in the Somme region and
at Plemont, near Nyon, where there
was terrific fighting early in April.