The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1918-05-17
ANOTHER HUN SUB
BASE IS BLOCKED
BRITISH NAVY SINKS OBSOLETE
CRUISER ACROSS ENTRANCE
TO osTEND HARBoR.
ALLIED TROOPS MAKE GAINS
French Force Germans to vacate Por-
ton of Grivesnes Remaining in
Their Hends-Patrol Fights
of italian Front.
(War Review for May III

German submarine operations from
the harbor of Ostend, Belgium, have
been seriously hampered for time. if
not rendered impossible, by a daring
raid made on the harbor by the Brit
ish Friday morning. An official state
ment issued by the British admiralty
says the channel leading out of the in
ner harbor has been completely block
ed by the hulk of the old cruiser Vim
dictive, which was Unanswered into po-
sition under heavy fire and then sunk
by bombs. 1t appears, however, there
is some doubt that the entire channel
is blocked one report saying the vessel
lies at an angle and does not abso-
lutely interrupt the use of the fair
way.
The British lost one motorboat.
Their casualties were light
Germans Say Raid Was Failure.
The German official statement con-
corning the raid says the attempt was
failure, and that he hulk of the old
cruiser lies outside of the navigation
channel This report may be compar-
ed to the one issued April "A, the day
following the raid on Zeebrugge,
which claimed no damage was done to
the mole or the harbOr there. Sub
sequent events have proved the, dam
age done by the raid of April % was
of serious nature.
1t is pointed out that the obstruc-
ton in the channel at Ostend will tend
to eventually close the harbor through
the action of the tides and the rapid j
sitting up of the harbor.
Great Mine Field Ready.
If Ostend and Zeebruge are removed
as ports from which the German u
boats may be operated the Germans |
apparently will be compelled to with I
draw their submersibles to their home |
ports In this connection it is inter |
esting TO note that a week ago it was
announced that the greatest mine field
known to naval operations had been |
planted in the North sea to combat the
submarines. 1t was officially stated |
the area of this mine field would be
121.7S2 miles and would be completed
by May 10. Some months ago Adj
miral JeIlicoe of the British navy, an
nounced the submarine menace would |
be met by August / and it is possible |
he had the blocking of the harbors of |
Zeebrugge and Ostend and the laying |
of an immense mine field in mind |
when he made his statement
French Make Advance.
While the naval arm of the entente |
nations was busy on the Belgian coast /
the military forces were engaged in
local fighting in the Ypres and Somme
sectors. The French made a notable
advance at Grivesnes, where they took
the part of the town which had. been
in German hands for three weeks.
Along the front to the north there were
scattering engagements. notably at
Aveluy wood, north of Alberta, where
the contending armies are striving for
ground.
There were also small operations in
the KENNEL hill front, southwest of
Ypres.
There have been the usual local en- |
gagements between patrols ON the {
italian and Macedonian fronts. but {
nothing approaching a general engage {
ment has been fought.
Pope Benedict has set aside June % j
IS day TO be observed in Catholic
.hurches of the world as day for :
prayers that peace may be restored to
he world.