The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1918-05-09
Naval Forces of Allies Make
Dashing Raid to Bottle Up
Hun U-Boat Bases.
GREAT BATTLE is RENEWED
Germans Gain Little by Heavy Attacks
HOLLAND Being Pushed to Wars
Brtnk-John D.. Ryan Made
Director Of Aircraft Pro-
ductlon.
BY EDWARD w. PICkARD.

Last week brought forth one of the
most spectacular n dashing opera
tons or the War-the raid Of British
and French naval forces on the Ger
mar U-boat bases ut Zeebrugge and
Ostend. Five obsolete cruisers and
two old submarines were sacrificed.
Tho former, laden with concrete, were
to be sunk in the channel mouths, and
the latter full Of explosives, were driv-
en- against the molcs. These vessels,
escorted by destroyers and all making
n dense smoke screen. approached the
Belgian coast in the night but were
discovered and deluged with shells
from the shore batteries and from Ger
man destroyers. The chief fight tool
place Mt Zeebrugge. There the cruiser
Vindictive ran inside the hnrbor under
heavy fire, and landed her crew on the
mole after Il great gap had been blown
In 1t by a submarine. The men cleared
the mole, destroyed aIl It's guns and
sank q destroyer and were able to get
away again. though their losses were
severe. Meanwhile three Of the block
ships were sunk ut the entrance of the
canal or in the harbor, md one Of the
Olu SubllluIlllcS WIS DCllcScu 10 nave
destroyed the lock gates, letting the
water run out of the Bruges canal.
At Ostend the operation was simpler
and mt least one of the block ships has
been observed from airplanes block
Ing the greater part Of the channel.
At this time 1t is not known Just
how successful the operation was in
bottling up the U-boat bases, but prob
ably 1t was no more so than was Hob
sons attempt to bottle up the Spanish
ieet In Santiago harbor. However, 1t
was n gallant enterprise, fearlessly
carried out, and American navy men
hope 1t will be followed up by addi-
tional naval exploits.
There was comparative quiet along
the battle front in France and Flanders
during the first half of the week, and
both the allies and the Germans took
advantage f the opportunity to
strengthen their positions. In the
minor operations the former had rather
the best Of 1t usually and the Huns
were pushed back in various sectors
by both the British and the French
Meanwhile the Germans were bringing
up their heavier artillery, q difficult
thing because Of the nature Of the ter
rain and were evidently making prep
arations for n resumption Of the attack
This came on Wednesday, when
after an intense bOmbardment, the en-
envy attacked with very considerable
forces the allied positions south Of the
Sommc, and along the Avre, In the
regions Of Hangard, Hailles and Sene
assaults were successfully rcpulsed ex
cept at Hangard, which village again
fell into the hands of the Germans
The reports from Paris said that
American troops were fighting with
the French on this line and that their
existence to the attacks Of the Huns
was desperate. About eleven miles
directly east Of Amlens, the German
objective in this region, the British
withdrew from the village Of Villers
~Bretonneux, but elsewhere they stood
firm.
At the same time the Huns launched
attacks against the British In Flanders
and there was fierce fighting on the
line between Bailleul and Mcrville and
near Bcthune.
Next day by a smashing %counter-at
tack the British retook Villers, taking
some 700 German prisoners and find
ing the enemy dead hcapcd up about
the village. The Huns also attacked
strongly on the south slopes Of Mount