The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-04-06
BY PERCIvAL PHILLIPS.

BRITISH ARMY HEAparARrEEs iH
FRANCE, April 4 (delayed).--1t is the
airplane. swooping down from friendly
cloud TO new and undreamed attacks.
that has commanded the latest atten-
zion Of the battle commanders. And It
is the entire allied battle fleets Of fi.ers.
the British. the French and the Ameri-
cans, that are showing in the daring
operations.
The spirit OF victory is less apparent
among tho German troops to-day than
Il was a week ago. Without the slightest
doubt they have deprecated apprecla.
bly, at some place during the last few
days. although too mach emphasis must
not be placed upon this fact Their
casualties are out OF all proportion to
the things that they have attained. This.
coupled with the constant exposure to
the strain to which our harassing fire
has subjected them. Is making them
realize that they hr.-s been again de-
luded with promises from the high com.
mand OF q swift and splendid victory
and almost immediate peace.
Exhausted divisions are being taken
out Of the line, and the continued stag
nation on tho front hAtween Arras and
Albert 10 saaily understood. The enemy
lies uncomfortabiy In the waste places
Of his old trench system. There are dif-
t!culties in the matter Of transport and
the new grouping of guns. The placing
OF tho guns IN new positions IL a prob
lem that presents enormous troubles
Problems for the Invaders.
Further 70 the south the German In
fantry is lodged in fresh villages in an
undamaged country. Here they are fed
by better roads and can move with
greater ease.
Where the Ancre River represents the
high water mark Of the invasion the
enemy has been more intent upon dig
ging in and trying to feed the front line
garrison than upon nipring out de-
sirable bit OF high ground at great cost.
There are approximately three enemy
divisions holding the region between Al
bert and Hamel. The Germans still
occupw the salient thrust out around
Aveluv Wood. but they otherwise lie at
the fringe OF the west bank OF the river.
gained by uncertain footways thrown
across the river al Ave,uy and Auth.lle
From Albert the ground rises sharply
10 Bouzincourt, where We are firmly set
with machine guns. with strength ade-
quate to stop al, unobstructed ap-
proaches.
The enemy IS working energeticaily to
extend his lines of communication across
the country and the Somne Light rail-
ways are being multiplied In an extraor-
dnary way. Many new aerodrones have
made Their appearance ard the railroads
are pushed as far forward az they dare
Our airmen have lert a hand In this
region in most unexpected way. They
have been out early in the morning and
the Germans have been attacked by the
machines that circled above their as
senhly places. At Qucant ard PronviIle
the frst intimation that some of the
English battalions just over No Mans
Land had Of the advance was when they
saw alrplanes dive suddenly and fire
their machine guns at the ground.
Hero. as in other sectors. our ma
chines flew IN a double barrage with
reckless daring, following up the German
reserves as they debouched from their
ravires and peppering them on the open
field when they were close to our
trenches.
Air Fleets In Open Warfare.
Since the opening day Of the battle the
airmen have performed wonderful feate
AS the enemy we'll knows. what may he
described as fleets OF airpIanes have been
taking moro prominent part In open
warfare than ever before They repre-
sent the air forces OF the Allies. although
tho Canadian, Australian and British
units nsura repeatedly in tho reports %:
thesa operations.
fantry at heights OF 100 rect and oven
le.s They have done this 81 f-enneptl -