The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1918-05-09
BRITISH BLOCKED
SUBMARINE EXITS
Old Cruisers Filled With Con-
crete Sunk in Port of Zee
hrugqe and 0stcnd.
MAY LESSEN U-BOAT MENACE
Cruiser VindIctIve Landed RIueJaekets
and Blew Up MoIe-commander
of Daring Expedition Killed.

Washington, April 24-British nav
al forces, reinforced to some extent
by French war craft, have carried out
startling and daring maneuTer,
which, II it should prove TO have been
successful, may play q marked part IN
the future OF the war
No less objective was sought than
the blotting out by one sweeping blow
Of Germany's submarine menace from
the bases at Zeebrugge and Ostend by
the sinking across the exits from the
harbOrs OF large old time cruisers,
laden with cargOes of concrete TO
make them more difficult OF removal
While full details OF the attack have
not yet been received, the information
at hand is that two OF the cruisers
were blown up at the entrance to the
Bruges canal at Zeebrugge and an
other was sunk while passing into the
canal AT Ostend two additional war
ships were run ashore and destroyed
by bombs. but It is believed they
failed TO choke the channel
Damage Extends TO Shore.
In addition considerable damage was
done by the guns OF the warships to
works on shore at both places.
Volunteers we're chosen by the Brit
! ish admiral in command for the dam
| gerous task and a far greater number
/ Of men than could be used In the en-
| terprise willingly came forward and
offered their services for maneuFer
which might be successful in Kidding
| the waters OF menaces which had re-
NAMED impregnable under the shore
| batteries, the guns Of warships and
the treaeherous shoal water outside
One British torpedo boat destroyer
was sunk by the German guns and
four smaller craft are missing, while
q considerable number of casualties
on board the attacking vessels was
suffered
British Gained Near Robecq.
| London. April 24-The British gain
| ed ground today east of Robeco, ac-
cOrding to Field Marshal Haig's re-
port tonight. and improved their po-
sition around Meteren- Numerous
prisoners were captured
/ Expect Germans to Resume Drive.
Washington, April 23.-Events along
/ the battle line in France and Belgium
seem to be shaping themselves for
resumption Of the great German often
siTe- Since the savage attack on the
| American forces at Seicheprey Satur-
! day there has been no fighting Of an
extraordinary nature along the front,
but there have been indications the
! Teutons are almost ready to resume
the sledge hammer blows they have
been aiming at the allied armies
Unless recent operations have been
feints, it is probable the coming week
will witness two great turning move
ments by the Germans. One probably
will pivot on the village Of Robecq,
northwest Of BethUne, on the south
ern side Of the salient driven into the
allied lines back of Armentieres. The
other is expected to develop at or near
Mesnil, north of Albert, on the north
side Of the Somme salient
May Try TO Widen Salient.
The purpose OF these movements
Will be to cut deep into the allied lines
on each side Of the promontory that
projects out into German held terri
| tory and terminates on the old Arras-
Lens front. The Germans have at
tempted two great frontal attacks on
the defenses of Lens and Arras, but
they have been REFUSED with terrible
sses to the attackers. These losses
/ were inflicted upon the enemy before
he reached the stronger allied posi-
tons in that sector, and since the
second defeat at Festubert and Given
chy the Germans have not cared 10
take up the task OF driving the Canad-
ians from their positions along Vfmy
Ridge and on each end of that great
natural bu1wark before Arras.
Heavy Artillery Engagements.
If successful attacks were TO be
launched by the Germans at Robeco
and MesniI, the British might be
forced to withdraw from Arras with
out having chance to defend their