Cleveland County herald., 1918-05-30
HUNS GREAT DRIVE
HAS BEEN RESUMED
IN FLANDERS ALLIES RECOVER
ED WHAT LITTLE GROUND WAS
LOST AND TAKE PRISONERS.
ONLY SMALL GAINS MADE
Attack Was Preceded BY lombard
ment Hardly Less Intense Than One
That Opened First BIow-Attack
Between Rheims and Scissors.

London. Germany's long-aWaited
offensive on the battle front in Franco
opened at two points where it had
been expected-between Rheims and
scissors and in Flanders. In the lat
ter region, of course, 1t is another at
tempt to reach the hill positions west
of KENNEL and to pinch the British
army holding tho Ypres salient. The
attack in the Rheims-Soissons sector
perhaps is a formidable blow by which
the Germans hope to shatter the
French army, similar attempt
against the British further north hay
ing failed.
Launching heavy offensive at
dawn against the French in the
Locre Voormezeele sector, the Ger
mans failed of their detectives at vir-
tually all points. At some points the
defending patrols were driven in, but
vigorous counter-attacks threw the
Germans back at most places. Virtuas-
ly the entire French line was re-es-
tablished.
Hard fighting at this hour still con
tined on the northern part of the bat
tie front. Just south of Diekebuseh
Lake the Germans forced their way
into the French line for a distance OF
500 yards and also got into the front
line system at another point in this
region. In both these places the enc
my was clinging desperately to his
newly acquired positions, but the
French were dealing with the situa-
ton, which appeared to be satisfac-
tory at the latest reports. One hun
dred prisoners already have been sent
back to the French cages.
This attack was perhaps prelimi-
nary to larger operations and appar-
emily has been undertaken for the pur-
pose of regaining the high ground
which the French wrested from the
enemy May 20.
Such positions as Bruloose and
neighboring places would be valuable
acquisitions for the enemy if the Ger
mans were to develop a general at
tack in this region later
1t is interesting to note in connec-
ton with the drive in Flanders that
the Germans considered their attacks
on the Lys front in April to be a fail
ure, according to prisoners. 1t is
stated that while some troops have
been congratulated for the way they
fought, they have been told that their
failure was the result of bad staff
in Of
operation here was relieved of his
command.
The Reuter- correspondent at head
quarters in France describes the Ger
man bombardment as scarcely less
violent than that which heralded the
German offensive on March 81. Gas
shells were employed in great quaint
ties and the bombardment and infan-
try aetack between scissors and
Rheims were on a more formidable
scale than in Flanders.
The Germans, according to this cor
respondent, employed their familiar
formations-dense waves of infantry
following closely in the wake of lift
ing barrage, and they pushed fresh
troops up with characterize reck-
lessness.
Among the signs Of a resumption
Of the grand offensive are that the
enemy is heavily Smelling our far-back
areas with high velocity guns, and
also his airmen are unusually venture
some" continues the dispatch. "A
i,, hA
ports from the battle 'front.'"