GENERAL ARTILLERY ACTIVITY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 114, 18 May 1918, Page 5

GENERAL ARTILLERY ACTIVITY

BELGIAN HOSPITAL BOMBED.

LONDON, May 17.

Sir Douglas Haig reports mutual artillery fire, particularly northward of the Lys. A Belgian communique states that an enemy aviator dropped four bombs upon the hospital at Hoogstad. The artillery action has assumed a lively character, especially in the region of Pilkem. A French communique reports marked reciprocal artillery activity north and south of the Avre. Eighteen enemy aeroplanes were 'brought down on th e 15th inst., and four captive balloons were set on fire.

AEROPLANES INVADE GERMANY

SAARBRUCKEN RAIDED.

(Australian and N.Z. Association.) and Reuter.)

LONDON, May 17. •Sir Douglas Haig's aviation report says: Our aeroplanes and balloons carried out a great deal of work on Wednesday, in co-operation with the artillery. The bombing, machines began the attack at continued till dark, dropping over 24 tons of bombs. The targets included the railway stations at Tournai, Courtrai, and Chaulnas, billets in the neighbourhood of Douai, Bapaume, Menin, ami on the Somme, and also the Zeebrugge-Bruges canal. "Enemy aircraft were active early in the morning and also in the evening, attacking our bombers with particular j insistence. We brought down 25 German machines, drove down 12, and shot down one. Eleven British machines are .missing. After dark our night-fliers '"continued and dropped over 14 tons of bombs on the railway stations at Chaulnes, Lille and Douai, billets at Peronne, Bray, and Bauaume and the docks at Bruges. One British machine has not returned. Early on Thursday aeroplanes set out •to .bomb factories and the railway station at Saarbrucken. "When crossing the lines they encountered ten scouts, and a running fight ensued along the whole way to the objectives. When Saarbrucken was reached they attacked the British with the utmost vigour, but despite the attacks we dropped 24 heavy bombs on the objectives. Several bursts were seen on tlfte railway, and a fire started. Having attained their objectives, our aeroplanes concentrated their efforts on fighting the enemy machines. We brought down five. One British aeroplane -was seen to be shot down. All the others returned. GERMAN RAIDERS REPULSED. (Australian and N.Z. CabL- Asf*ciation \ and Reuter.) (Rec. "May 18, 11.55 a.m.) LONDON, May 17., Sir Douglas Haig reports:— We repulsed raiders in the neighbourhood of Noyon and Neuville and southward o'f Arras. ■ There was great' reciprocal artilIferying during the night in the Pacaut Wood seotor, northward of Hinges Hill. . V. ■ ■ Hostile arunerying also increased between Locon, Hinges and Ni-eppe <Forest to Meteren.

GERMAN COMMUNIQUE,

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter..)

(Admiralty per Wireless Press.)

LONDON, May 17. A Grerman official report say's :—We ejected the (French from the point they gained northward of Kemmel. We repulsed a strong advance from Herecat Wood. We shot down 35 aemlanes.