Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-11
French Troops Advance in
Region of Locre and Near
OrviIIerS-S0rreI.
BRITISH SUCCESSFUL
: IN MERVILLE RAID
Tremendous Aviation Activity Re-
suits in Striking English Successes,
27 Germans Being Downed
in One Day.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Whatever big move the Germans may
be preparing for on the western battle
front, they are finding an active and
alert foe confronting them. .
The French official statement, in par
ticular, fairly bristles with accounts of
intensive artillery and raiding activ-
tiles and more important minor thFnsts
against the Germans in various sectors.
In addition, the latest British aviation
report indicates such thorough command
Of the air that in one days fighting
twenty-seven German machines were
brought down, while the British losses
were only six machines.
French troops figured in the most tell
ing strokes delivered by the infantry
last night, both in Flanders and south
Of the Somme. In the former area an
operation was carried out which ad-
.xanced the French line somewhat in the
region east of Locre, an important hold
ing point against fianking operations di-
rected at Mont Rouge. British troops
made successful raid near Merville, to
the west of this area.
On the southern battle front, besides
carrying out several profitable raids, the
French bit into the German line on the
front between Montdidier and Noyon.
An appreciable gain Of ground was
made here northwest Of Orvillers-Sorel,
seven miles southeast of Montdidier.
French Official Report.
PARIS, May 11.-Heavy artillery
fighting on the front below Amiens. in
the region of Grivesnes and Mailly-
Raineval. is reported in today's official
communication.
The French gained ground on the
southern side Of the Picardy battle
front, near Orvil1ers-Sorel, southeast
Of Montdidier. The statement follows:
During the night very spirited ar
tfllery fighting continued all along the
front in the region Of Grivesnes and
Mailly-Rafneval North of Grivesnes
our troops carried out a raid and took
fifteen prisoners. In local operation
at Mareuil wood, northwest of Orvil-
lers-Sore1. we made an apprecia BILE
gain of ground. Thirty-nine prisoners
and several machine guns fell into our
hands. A German counter attack was
broken up completely by our fire.
French detachments made several
ancursions into the German lines, espe-
cially southeast of Montdidier, north
east OF Thiancourt, in the sector OF
eapignuel. and in the Woevre. taking
prisoners and material
There is nothing to report else
where on the front"
French Gain Near Locre.
LONDON. May 11-French Troops
advanced their lines slightly fyester-
day evening east of Locre. on the
Flanders front, the war office an
hounces. The statement follows:
French troops advanced their lines
0lightly yesterday evening east of
Iocre and captured several prisoners
We carried out successful raids dur
brought back few prisoners and ma
chine guns. A raid attempted by the
enemy east Of Ypres was stopped by
cur fire."
Last Nights Statement.
LONDON. May 1o-There was local
lighting today at Aveluy wood, north
Of Albert, and hostile artillery activity,
particularly in the Vimy and Robecq
sectors and south of Dickebusch.
There is nothing further to report
says the official report from Field Mar
reads:
There was local fighting today at
Aveluy wood, north of Albert. Apart
from hostile artillery activity at sew
and Robecq sectors and south. of Dicke-
busch, there is nothing further to
report.
areaf Aviation Act;v;+1
LONDON, Nay 11.-Cloudless weather
pn Thursday favored the British avia-
tors, according to an official statement
issued today dealing with air activities.
and twenty-seven German machines
were downed and twelve driven down
but of control. The statement follows:
"The cloudless weather on Thursday
enabled our airplanes to carry out full
days work. More than twenty-four
tons of bombs were dropped on differ
ent targets. including important rail-
way stations at Tournay. Marcoing,
Chaulnes and Cambria and billets at
Carvin. Peronne and Chipilly and the
docks at Zeebrugge. Fighting in the
kir was more or less continuous and it
was particularly fierce toward dusk.
'Twenty-seven German machines
were downed. twelve were driven down
cut of control and four hostile observa-
ton balloons were destroyed. Six of our
machines are missing.
DuEHS tIc IOuf ana One-nalI
tons of bombs were dropped on the
docks and at the entrance of the canal
ut Ostend. and three and one-half tons
on Peronne. Chaulnes and Bapaume
All Of the machines returned"
Scores Of Battles Fought.
By the Associated Press.
WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN
YRANCE, May 11.-There has been
much air fighting during the last few
days, and the British airmen have fully
sustained the great reputation they es-
tablished early in the war. Scores OF
battles might be recounted in which
the British triumphed over greater
numbers of the adversary. All of these
stories vary only as to details.
Several days ago near Ypres one Brit
ish machine attacked five Germans
single-handed. The British engaged one
enemy and fought him until he turned
tail and fled. The British pilot then
| went after another German and pressed
the attack SO hard that the enemy was
forced into a nose spin in an attempt
TO escape. The ruse was futile how
ever. for the Britisher followed him
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