Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 115, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 May 1918 — REPULSE RAIDERS NEAR MESNIL [ARTICLE]

REPULSE RAIDERS NEAR MESNIL

ACTIVITIES OF AIRMEN PORTEND LAUNCHING OF NEXT GREAT OFFENSIVE. . . •> London, May 22.—The Germans made another attempt today to raid the British positions near Mesnil, but were repulsed, according to Field Marshal Haig’s report tonight from British headquarters in France. The British carried out a raid on the German positions arond Hebuteme, with heavy casualties to the Germans. i In the past years of the war a period of extraordinary activity by aerial squadrons of the contending armies in France has been considered as an indication that events were rapidly shaping themselves for an offensive by one side or the other. At the present moment the most notable feature of the war situation is the remarkable work of airmen in various sectors where a German attack is looked for.

This activity has not been restricted to the actual battle area, but far back of each front there have been daring raids. The Rhine cities are being frequently bombed, while Paris has again been in danger of a new German attack from the airAmerican aviators have borne a prominent part in this fighting. In the Luneville and Toul sectors they have given a magnificent account of themselves, while further north and qven in the defense of London, they have demonstrated their fighting capacity. The German plans for a resumption of the offensive in France have been seriously hampered by the sudden blows of the allies here and there along the front. The Germans have been forced back at numerous points and new lines which may be more easily defended have been established by the allied nations. The Americans on their own sectors have given the enemy ho rest.. The artillery has battered the German lines night and day, while the infantrymen have raided German outpost positions and have proved themselves capable of outwitting and outfighting the enemy. General Pershing’s men have won several hot fights with the foe and Jiave captured prisoners. A night gas attack Was loosed on the Germans by the Americans near Toul, three waves of shells drenching a wooded position of the enemy with poisonous fumes. The French, too, have been at work in various sectors, particularly in the Somme region. They have gained ground here the there at points where positions of tactical value were taken from the Germans. Further north the British front has been fairly quiet, with tremendous bursts of artillery fire coming at intervals. The German official statement says that British attacks at various points were repulsed.