Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1918-05-07

LONDON. May Z. - Germany's
hordes are still held in check. Neither
in Flanders nor Picardy, nor along
the important Arras sector has the
enemy renewed his attacks in force,
nor aas he reacted against the gain
made north of the Somme by the Aus
tralians on both battlefronts. How
ever. artillery fire along these sectors
has been most intense and ii is gen.
orally conceded that the attack cannot
greatest German artillery activity has
occurred along the northern half OF
the Flanders front. French generals
are unanimous in their belief that the
next giant drive will be delivered 81.
multaneously on the Flanders. Arras.
Amiens. front, in an effort to push the
allies back with one mighty blow.
BRITISH ARE SUCCESSFUL
IN NIGHT RAIDS NEAR ARRAs
LONDON, May THE British
made a successful raid last night near
Neuville Vitasse, southwest OF Arras,
according to today's war office re
port. Theree machine guns were cap
tured. a raid attempted by a German
patrol near Boyelles was repulsed.
GERMAN POSITION MAKES
ATTACK OR RETREAT
IMPERATIVE
The present position OF the German
armies along the entire northern front
| from Amiens to the end OF the Flan-
| ders battleline makes ii presently
imperative that they must either ad-
vance or retreat North of Amiens
Hindenburg's armies have succeeded
in driving a deep salient into the al
lied lines. This salient Is dangerous
for with the exception OF KENNEL Hill
taken by the Hun commander some
| little time ago. the German armies
rest upon low ground. with the allied
positions predominating. This fact
| enables the FranCo-British artillery
to hammer the Hun defenses much
more effectively than he is able to re-
taliate and the constant lombard
mcnt OF these positions is causing the
Germans much inconvenience as well
az heavy loss. Bases of supplies for
the men holding this salient must nee
essarily be maintained to n greater
distance behind the lines than Is or.
dinarily believed feasible. The trans
portation of supplies into the territory
presently held becomes increasingly
| difficult as the line advances as well
as almost impossible in the face OF
| allied gunfire. Then again there is
the ever present danger of the wise
being tightened on both sides OF the
! salient to the manifest destruction of
the forces caught between its jaws. In
addition to these facts the topography
OF the district makes IL difficult to
maintain within an adequate distance
ammunition depots and observation
bureaus. The eyes OF the army. as
the observation and signal depart
ments are called are among the most
important of its functions and where
these are handicapped bygeograph.
ical conditions they lose a great part
Of their effectiveness. In order 10
make this salient really effective and
safe the German commander must
straighten out his line on both sides
of II. To do this. therefore. the next
attack must be delivered both on the
Flanders battlefield and on the sector
around Amiens. This Is the reason
why the French stratcgists believe the
next attack will take the form of {
general assault all along this line Tht
inability OF the German army to breal
Haig's defenses in the extreme north
crn portion OF Flanders makes II
L. evident that when the blow does fal
II will be delivered In much create
force than formerly in n supreme ei
fort to break the line. Amiens in tn
past has proved much more vulner
, able spot and therefore by delivering
? an extremely heavy blow at both end
OF the line and holding the salien
? the Germans may expect to gain a rC
r aROnable advantage. Unless this 1
done in view OF their present status o