The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-05-17
TROOPS PACKED
SIX TO THE YARD
AGAINST ALLIES
Germans Tempting Batter
les to Fire to Locate
Points of Attack.
MANY PATROL CLASHES
Raids Invite Barrage to Re-
veal Possible Openings
for Infantry.
MANY PATROL CLASHES

LONDON. May I6.-ACtlVlty on the
fighting front in Flanders was prac.
tically confined to-day to the artillery.
particularly in the Lys salient. with q
few patrol encounters Of no Importance e
here and there. Much the same condi-
tions prevailed on the Picardy portion
of the front
The French report that an artillery
duel took place yesterday in the Hailles-
Castel section. east Of Amiens. and tina.
German raid west of Montdidier was
repused. There was no infantry action
to-day, the night statement says. but
artillery activity was very marked north
and south OF the Avre. British troops
captured few prisoners last night in
raid near Gavrelle. northeast OF Arras.
Berlin asserts that the French were
elected from the positions they captured
north OF KENNEL. when they broke
through the German lines. and that an
attack by the French with a large force
in Senecat Wood, on the west bank of
the Avre. was repulsed with heavy loss
to the assailants.
Open Fishtiss Again Near.
correspondent with the French army in
France, the number Of trench raids from
both sides increases along this battle
front, where the concentrated forces Of
the opposing armies must soon again be
engaged. In the neighborhood of the
SammS and southward from Hsillss,
where an important railroad line a.
tracts the enemy's attention. and the
hank Of the German line between Mont
didier and Soyon. the artillery is in
cessantly most active.
Al Rollot, on the Abbeville road,
southeast OF Montd.dier, where an
enemy attack is expected momentarily.
the Germans put down a severe bom-
nardment yesterday. but their infantry,
although showing Indications of an in
tent to advance. was kept back by the
French gunners and could no, leave its
position.
Inc Germans are endeavorins to To-
cate the position and estimate the
strength OF the allied batteries by tempt
ing them to open fire and thus disclose
'heir emp!acements and show where
their barrage fire strikes.
Gsps for Infsstry sought.
4 German order captured in a recent
RAID gives directions to artillery OBJ
servers II says: The enemy's barrase
should be verified minutely. and also
the amount OF time elapsing before II
starts after our attack. A note should
be made regarding spaces where shells
DO not strike and estimates should be
made as TO how many guns participate
and whether there are any big calibred
pieces. Roads under fire should be
marked"
In this way the enemy hopes to gain
information as TO areas where infantry
can pass with the smallest losses when
a real attacn opens.
There are six Germans 10 the yard on
the greater part OF the Fra nco- Belgian
front. from the North Sea to the Oise.
according 10 the Paris GauIois. which
bases the statement on the information
1t says has rea ched the General Stan
that 100 German divisions are situated
in this area.
Ten OF these divisions. II is stated. !
are in the region between Nieuport and |
fpres. forty divisions are between Ypres |
and La Bassee Canal and 100 divisions |
from La Bassee Canal to the Oise.
On this basis It is estimated, says the |
newspsper. that the German strength
from Ypres TO the Oise Is some six men
10 the yard, except on the northern part
'f the front. above Ypres. where the
estimate is a third OF that number
Omcial Reports Of Operations.
Following are the of,icial reports on
he operations on the western front:
BRITISH (NIGHT-Beyond artil-
lery activity on both sides. particu-
larry on the battle front north OF the
River Lys, ;nere is nothing OF special
interest to report.
BRITISH tDAO--Our troops raided
the enemys trenches last night in tine
neighborhood Of Gavrelle (northeast
OF Arras) and captured few pris.
oners.
Beyond artillery activity on both
sides at different points. particularly
in the valleys OF the Somme and !
Ancre rivers. east OF Arras. and on the
northern battle front, there Ia nothing
further to report.
FRENCH lNIGHT)-There was no
infantry action. The activity Of both
artilleries was marked north and
south Of the Avre.
On May Is our pursuit machines
were extremely active in the air.
Eighteen German pianes were brought
down and four captive balloons were
set on hre.
FRENCH (DAY)--An artillery duel
took place In the Hailles- Castel sec.
tor. A German raid west OF Mont
didier was repulsed BY the French fire.
French patrols operating north o;
the Ailette brousht back prisoners.
GERMAN (DAO-After the close