The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1918-02-28
WESTERN ARMIES
ARE MORE ACTIVE
The British and French Troops
Have Recently Made Sue
cesSful Trench Raids,
PATROL PARTIES LARGER NOW
Austrians Resume Attack on Italian
Front, But Completely RePuIsed,
Rome Headquarters Claims.

W G~o-AA--S5NO-As CDs Ao--4AS Ll4l4Ld41
activity on the western front is daily
Increasing in volume. The patrol en-
counters are being carried out by
larger parties than has been the case
since the winter set in, and more zest
is added to the fighting
The British near Epehy and La
Bassee have conducted further incur
sions into the enemy positions, in the
latter region inflicting numerous cas-
ualties and also taking prisoners and
machine guns Likewise, north Of the
Ailette river and in the WoeTre sec
tor the French have made successful
attacks, capturing nearly 800 prison
ers. A somewhat ambitious attack by
the Germans i'm the Verdun sector was
put down by the French with severe
casualties
Although the increase in the activ-
ity along the entire front in France
and Belgium is noticeable, there is no
Indication when the Germans will be-
gin their much heralded general Of
tensive. A German, captured by the
British, says at least one big attack is
due some time in March. Meanwhile
large concentrations of fresh troops
daily are arriving behind the German
line and carrying out practice ma
neuYers.
On the Italian front the Austrians
again have endeavored to test the
strength of the Italians in the Settle
Communi plateau sector The Ger
man war office asserts that the Aus
TRANS carried out a successful attack
| here, but the Italian official communi-
/ cation declares that the Austrian col
umns were torn to pieces by Italian
artillery as they tried to gain the
/ southern slopes Of Monte SassO Rosso
and other positions and the offensive
was completely repulsed.
Ready for Big Clash.
With the British Army in France,
/ Feb. 1.-THE tension along the Brit
| ish-German front is Tightening. As
the extraordinarily bright, mild wealth
er has continued to dry out the sod
den fields, the two great armies have
| become more alert. The inertia of the
days when the western theater was
held in the grip Of snow and impas-
sable mud has disappeared and the
contending forces are poised, watch
ing each other, like duellists, for the
first move, which will mean that the
most sanguinary period of the war has
! begun
Something Will Happen Soon.
Something seems bound to happen
before another month has passed, if
the present weather holds. Indeed,
/ even now the ground in some sections
/ is quite fit for fighting
The enemy continues to make in
tense preparations for what has been
l advertised as the great offensive. -
German troops and guns keep pouring
into the western front, and there are
are in Flanders.
Germans Practice Attacks.
Certain areas back of the German
front have been cleared for action and
daily bodies OF troops have been prac-
ticing attacks under the tutelage Of
experts. Prisoners say that leave for
the soldiers was stopped January 90
So far as actual fighting is con
cerned, it is still confined TO identifi
cation raids, air activity and occasion
al bursts Of artillery. Along many
miles Of the front, which the cores
pondent visited in the last two days
there is an ominous quiet One may
sit for hours on q vantage point sc
close to the German lines that the
enemy can be seen working about, YET
there are few sounds Of strife
The British Sitting Tight
The enemy is playing pOssum Of
ignoring the military movements be
hind the British lines, and the British
themselves are sitting tight, saying
little. The silence is uncanny, and i
is portentious.
Germans Ambush Americans.
With the American Army in France
Feb. 11-Five American soldiers Wer'
killed, four are missing and two Weri
wounded when an American patro
was ambushed in No Mans Land Fri
day night by superior force o
Germans.