The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1918-05-08

Vienna, May 6.-Heavy fighting
along the whole Italian front between
the Adriatic and the Giudioaria Val
ley In the north is reported in the Off
cial statement.
Paris, May 6.-Spirited artillery
fighting along the Avre river, on the
front southeast of Amiens, is report
ed in the official statement.
London, May Gan intense bonn
bardment was opened by the Germans
early I'm the morning on the Flanders
front from Locre to the south of Ypres.
There Is great activity, also, i'm the Sec
tor between the forest of Nieppe and
Meteren, the war office announces.
The British slightly improved their
| position In minor operation near
Hinges, on the southerly side of the
Lys salient, while on the northern
front the French carried out local
enterprise in which prisoners were
taken In the Locre sector
The area of the cannonadIng indi-
Gates that, should the attack develop,
1t will be a frontal sweep westward
against Hazebrouck. and fanking
| from the west.
The sector under bombardment be-
fore Hazebrouck Is seven-mile front
from the Nieppe forest northward to
Meteren. Hazebrouck Is slightly
more than four miles west of the line
xxrharn Of Vfntty- ID r
duin. The latter town is about mid
way between the forest and Meteren.
Battle Ground Is Low.
Most of the terrain between the
present line and Hazebrouck is ex-
tremely low, especially along the
Plate-BecQue river. The only heights
of any Importance are Kate hill and
Mont de Merris, both just south Of
Meteren.
The other bombardment area ex-
tends from Locre eastward to point
south of Ypres, a front Of about six
miles. Here the Germans, in previ
Gus assaults. have swept northward be-
yOnd the hills, with the exception Of
Scherpenberg, which lies just north
of Locre. This point, strongly de-
Tended by the French, has barred enc
my progress in this direction several
times.
The British hold the strong strate-
gic points of Voormezeele and Dicke
bush. Ypres is more than two miles
north of the farthest German advance
here.
Between the two bombarded sectors
Is a stretch Of four miles, back Of
which are the strongly defended
heights of Monts Rouge, Noir and De
Cats. Hindenburg has thus selected
the comparatively easier offensive
areas-in case his infantry follows up
the artillery preparation.
In several instances Of late, how
ever, the Germans have bombarded
two or more areas merely to screen an
attack on only one Of them.
Allies Ready for Blow.
With the British Armies in Flan-
ders, May 6.-The allies are alertly
awaiting Hindenburg's next mighty
blow
The first and second drives failed.
just as the first dash toward Paris and
the sea in 1914. The third is already
delayed by the sound thrashing admin
istered by the Franco-British forces,
necessitating q far more complete re-
organization Of Hindenburg's hosts
than was at first supposed.
! The situation today Is better than
seemed possible during the early
stages of the offensive. The allies
have stopped every attempt of Won HUI
tier to edge toward Amiens. On the
Lys both Won Armin and Won Quasi
have butted their heads against a
wall.
That the enemy has made gains on
both battle fronts is not disputed. but
the outstanding feature is that neither
on the Somme nor the Lys has he been
able to exploit his successes.
Badly mauled. Hindenburg's armies
already have been forced to rest sew
eral weeks when time Is the most pre-
cious element.
Realizing the colossal stakes, the
German high command today Is per-
fecting its next stroke, which may de-
eide the German chances. The blow
may come at any time.
British Worry Over Losses.
Washington, May 6.-Brltish losses
In men killed. wounded, captured and
missing ON the western front since the
German offensive began March 81 are
estimated by the British military here
to be nearly 100000. In statement
giving this calculation the mission
said that everything indicates the Of
fensive will be continued almost i'm
mediately and that II the brunt of the
attack is borne again by the British,
the situation will become serious I'M
less the British troops are supported
by sufficient reserves.