Evening star., 1918-05-26
German Military Sta
tior,s Sholvered With
Tons of Bombs.
TROOP MOVEMENTS
GREATLY HINDERED
Period of Bad Weather
Settles Ouer the Western
Battle Front.

Battle Front.
Military operations on the western
battlefront have been overshadowed in
interest recently by developments else
where, but nevertheless the situation
on the Franco Belgian line, represent
ing as it does the eliminating efforts
Of the opposing belligerents to decide
the great war, is being followed from
day to day with close attention.
No signs are observable, according
to correspondents at the front, of the
enemy's intentions as to the time and
place of the delivery of his expected
stroke. The artillery activity, indeed,
seems less marked than for some days
past, while the aviators have been
obliged to let down in their intensive
labors by the advent of less favorable
weather for their operations.
It seems not improbable, however,
that the magnificent work of the
allied airmen has had not little to
do with the slowness of the enemy in
putting his offensive machine in work
ing order again. They have establish
ed themselves as masters of the situa-
ton to such an extent that the Ger
mans have been forced for the most
part to keep well back of their own
lines.
Cover Wide Territory.
The allied aviators, on the other
hand, have been able to carry out
Photographic observations and bomb
ing work ON n large scale for long
distances in the enemy.s rear terri-.
tory.
The bombing operations have been
so extensive that ton after ton Of ex-
plosives has been unloaded on mill
tary objectives-many more than
1000 tons to date. Unqeutsionably this
has seriously interfered with Ger
man movements of troops and sup
plies. Furthermore. the activities of
the battling aviators on the entente
side has swollen the German losses
of machines to considerably in excess
of the 1000 recently reported to have
been brought down since the opening
Of the enemy's spring offensive.
This partial binding Of the enemy
has naturally tended to keep him less
well informed OF dispositions on the
allied side and probably served to
make him more hesitant in making
decisive moves.
French Down Enemy Planes.
PARIS. May 25.-The war office an
nouncement tonight says:
There was intermittent artillery
action north and south of the Avre
On May % and % four enemy air
planes and two captive balloons were
brought down. 1t Is confirmed that
f1ve additional German planes were
Destroyed in aerial engagements on
From May % to May %. inclusive,
our bombing escadrilles dropped 3O.-
600 Kilograms of projectiles on sta
tions. cantonments and aviation
the stations at Montescourt and
Hirson and serious damage to the
aviation grounds at Cappy have been
established"
German Raids Repelled.
By the Associated Press.
ON THE FRENCH FRONT, May 25.
Except for heavy artillery firing
south of the River Somme in the re-
gion of Moreuil and Ailly-sur-Noye.
where Gen. Won Hutier's strong army
faces, the entente allies. relative calm
marked every section of the front up
10 late hour last night. There has
been great activity in,the last few
days in the sector south of the
Somme. Enemy troops made a num-
ber Of raids. but all were repealed
The latest attempt of the Teuton
was made early yesterday morning
at Mesnil-St. Georges. to the west of
Montdidier. This also was repuIsed.
The German airmen have been re-
markabiy modest of late in the
neighborhood of the battle front.
where they leave the skies almost
entirely to the allied aviators. When
the German airmen see an entente
machine approaching they imme-
combat. The German night bombing
machines. however, are extremely
busy. They have been attacking rail-
road depots and functions, but with
out doing great damage.
1t is assumed the Germans either
are unable to replace easily their re-
cent enormous losses in airplanes and
pilots or they are trying out i'm
proved machines with which they
hope to surprise the entente allies
when the offensive begins. They will
meet a warm reception, as the en-
tente aviators are full Of confidence
In their superiority.
British omcial Report.
LONDON. May 25.-"The hostile
artillery has been active today in the
vfliers Bretonneux sector" says the
Official statement given out tonight
by the British war ONCE. Otherwise.
the statement adds. there u nothing
of special interest to report"
Aerial Activities Intense.
By the Associated Press.
WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN
FRANCE, Friday, May 24.-Althoueh
the lull in infantry lighting still
continues along-the front, there has
been intensified activity on the part
Of the air services in the last week.
and. as usual. the British have shown
themselves masters of the situation.
Yesterday and today were not suit
able for aerial work. but the pre-
vious days of fine weather brought
out the aviators in force.
Numerous enemy raids have been
conducted over British territory, but
for the most part the British airmen
have forced the Germans to remain
CONTINUED on Second Pa1s.l