The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-05-08
CANADIANS RAID
HUNS NEAR ARRAS
Prisoners and Machine Guns Cap
tured-Foe's Attack Is
RepuIsed.
new BATTLE TO OPEN SOON
German Lines of Communication and
Troops AssembIage Points Are Be-
ing Swept by Allies
Guns.

London, May S.-The British made
a successful raid near Neuville-Vitasse,
southeast of Arras, the war office re-
ports. Three machine guns were cap
tured. The statement follows:
"We carried out successful raid
at night in the neighborhood of Neu-
villeVitasse (on the front recently
taken over by the Canadians) and
captured few prisoners and three
machine guns, with slight casualties
to our troops. A raid attempted by
the enemy near Boyelles was repulsed.
There is nothing further to report"
German lines of communication and
troop assemblage points are being
ceaselessly swept by French and Brit
ish heavy guns, both in Flanders and
in Picardy.
While Won Hindenburg is preparing,
from all indications, a renewal of his
mighty onslaught, his preliminary op-
erations are being carried out under
difficulties.
This is indicated by both the French
and British reports, both of which tell
of artillery exchanges, nearly all along
the battle line in northern France. At
some points this big gun dueling, dis
patches say, reaches the proportions
of a pitched general engagement.
Reciprocal raiding activity in the Ar
ras region is looked on with interest
here as showing both sides on their
toes at this point. Both the Cana
dians in their sortie near St Vitassee
ana the Germans at Boyelles probably
were seeking to feel out their OppO-
nents' strength and local dispositions.
Some observers here consequently be-
lteve that the enemy's next blow may
be delivered against the Canadians at
Arras and northward along the Vimy
ridge.
Furious Cannon DueIs.
With the British Army in France,
| May S.-The artillerymen continue to
carry the weight of the conflict on
their shoulders and had a busy time of
| 1t at numerous points along the battle
| front.
There was no infantry action in this
period, but from the furious gun duels
Waged south of Arras during the early
| part of the night one might easily have
drawn the conclusion that a grand at
| tack was In progress.
Fight Hand-to-Hand.
British Headquarters in France,
May S.-There was terrific lombard
ment of two hours duration last night
| in connection with two raids One
was carried out by the enemy and
! was unsuccessful.
! The other was by the canadians
near Neuville-V -Vitasse, south of Arras
| The Canadian raiders reported that
! many Germans were killed or wounded
| in hand-to-hand fighting and great de-
| struction was wrought in the enemy's
| defense works.
French Fight on Avre.
| Paris, May S.-Active artillery fight
| ing occurred at night on both sides of
the Avre on the front southeast of
Amiens, the war Office announces. The
statement follows:
"The artillery on both sides was
active north and south of the Avre.
4 German raid against a small French
post near Hangard was repulsed. In
the same region we carried out a To-
cal operation and brought back pris-
oners.
There Is nothing to report else
where on the front"
Berlin Admits Loss.
Berlin, May 8.-Australian contin-
| gents in a night attack between the
Ancre and the Somme succeeded in
reaching the foremost German lines
south of the Corbie-Bray road, the war
office admitted in its official statement.