Evening star., 1918-05-19
GERMAN|C CUDGEL
MAY FALL IN WEEK
Allied Armies on West Front
, Prepared to Ward Off
{ Enemy Blows.
Nv N. Associated Press.

Nearly lHtGS WCCho ioNo
since the German offensive, begun on
March 81, died down at its final active
point in futile assaults on the Flan-
ders front. Every indication. however,
points to the probability that the
coming week will witness its renewal.
The entente allied stats. as far as
their opinion can be learned. appear
convinced that the enemy has ABOUT
completed his reorganization and re-
adjustment Of forces and that he IS
only awaiting weather suitable to his
purposes to strike his new blow.
Fair weather is reported from the
battle front, but apparently TINS IS nos
TO the Germans liking. 1t is recai!ed
that he was materially aided In ms
drive from St. Quentin In Marcn ny
the foggy. misty CONDITIONS ssas pTesald could
be moved to the point selecteo ~,
the heaviest stroke without coming
under allied aerial observation.
1t may therefore be the enemys pu.- @
pose to await similar conditions oe-
fore essaying his second great push.
German public opinion is being pre-,
pared by Chancellor Won Herthng anu
others for the imminence OF renewed
heavy fighting. On the ailied sue on- no,-
fldence is expressed in the outcome. par
ticularly with the Germans crippled IN
reserve power through their losses In
the earlier attack. while the allies naSe ~,
received notable reinforcements from ,ne
United States, which day by day Is IN
creasing the number of its men on the
Franco-Belgian front. The totai Hile-
age of front held by American troops
indeed, is revealed to be the th1rd
greatest, the French standing nrst.
the British second and the Americans
exceeding the Belgian total
British ofacial Report.
LONDON. Nav 1s.-Field Marshal
Haigss report from British heSdQuar-
ters in France tonight says:
Successful raids, In which we TOOK
a number of prisoners ana Two ma
chine guns, were carried OUT this
morning in daylight in the Morlan-
court sector and south of Bulluch- In
the former enterprise Australian
troops rushed a hostile post west OF
Morlancourt village. and, taking the
garrison by surprise. captured TWEEN
without mourning any casualties
themselves.
'The hostile artillery was somewhat
more active this morning in the Viilers-
Bretonneux sector
French Communication.
PARIS. May 1s-The official state
reads:
rThere were lively artillery actions
north Of the Avre and in the Champagne
sector in the region OF Massiges. Our
patrols brought In prisoners between
Lassigny and Noyon. Two enemy air
planes were shot down on May 16 and
another during the night Of May 1911"
Berlin Reports Fighting.
BERLIN. via London, May 1S.-Great
a10 h1
ern battle front has led to violent hand
to-hand fighting. especially in the dis
trict Of Lassigny. according to the ofh-
cial statement issued by the war Office
today. which says that on Friday sixteen
allied airplanes and one captive balloon
were shot down by the Germans.
BERLIN. via London, May 1s.-The
"On the western battle front weak
artillery activity yesterday increased
considerably before darkness set In. A
strong harassing fire continued during
the night Great reconnoftering &C.
tfvity led to violent hand-to-hand
lighting. especially in the district Of
1assiSny.
-on several occasions prisoners were
brought in
captive balloon were shot down yes
terday.'
German Tanks Bested.
LONDON. May 1s.-German tanks
which made their nrst appearance on
the western front during the recent
German offensive came OF second best
in their encounters with the more
powerful and better managed British
tanks. Full accounts have just
reached tho British general stan OF
the FIRST pitched battle between Ger
man and British tanks in which
Ia Nd nh tins
was routed by the British on April "a
near Villers Bretonneux. Six Ger
man tanks appeared in front Of the
British line and started to roll up
the hanks of the British infantry
positions. A call for help was sent
to the nearest British tank camp and
Q squadron including both male and
the scene. A rough and tumble COM
bat ensued.
The British female tanks which ap-
peared first. were outfought, but the
arrival Of tho heavier male tanks COM
pletely changed the situation and the
beating.
New Cruiser Tanks Used.
Meanwhile the British had brought
up seven Of the new, fast cruiser type
called "whippet tanks" which attack
ed the enemys infantry positions on a
ridge. rolling up the German line from
the north. 1t developed that this
ridge was held by a line of machine
gun posts. while beyond the crest a
large German force was massing in
the open for an attack. The whip
pets" ran from shell hole to shell hole
1rfiicting terrible casualties and COM
pletely disorganizing the enemy's 8
Preparations for attack.
These seven tanks. each with a full
crew of twenty men. inflicted more
than 400 casualties on the enemy In
this engagement. while the casualties
on board the tanks were only Ave
men.
Tank Justifes Itself.
An oficer Of the general stan. COM
menting on this engagement to the
Associated Press. said:
The British tank has justified it.
self. The Germans have adopted
them, but there is yet no evidence
that they have any largo number
available with the start which we
have in tank construction we should
be able to preserve our superiority
without difficulty"
Canadian Cavalry Wins Glory.
By Canadian Press. LIMITED.
OTTAWA, May 18.-"Fighting for
every inch Of ground. taking tremen-
dous toll from the attacking Huns
sometimes with French allies, acting
often as infantry as well as horse
men," writes Roland Hill, the official
war correspondent for the Canadian
government. "the Canadian cavalry