Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 98, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 March 1918 — YANKEE PATROL OUTWITS HUNS [ARTICLE]

YANKEE PATROL OUTWITS HUNS

Missing Soldiers Dash Across “No Man’s Land.” THREE U.S. ARMIES FACE FOE American Colonel Captures a German Lieutenant While on a Raid With the French. With the American Army in France March B.—The American troops which have taken up their position on th< Lorraine front were billeted in towni back of the lines when they suddenlj received orders to move to the front They were transported in motortruckj over roads an inch deep in dust Streams of cannons, trucks and inoton cycles along the roads raised clouds of dust, w hich stuck to the men and madt their clothes, faces and equipment gray by the time they had reached the towns close to the firing line, from which they marched to their position during the night.. They found themselves in a section of Lorraine whera the ground rose in slight grades. In some cases the enemy lines were a half-mile away. Although this was th« first time they had been in ths trenches the units, from various parti of the United States, quickly adapted themselves to their new 'surroundings, The American patrols have been operating nightly in conjunction with the French and have worked between the lines with the greatest freedom. The artillery has been only Intermittently active, but usually a few shells are exchanged every hour. ■ With the American Army in France, March 8. —An American patrol comprising one officer and eight men which had been missing since last night in the sector northwest. of Toul, suddenly emerged from a shell hole close to the German lines during the day and made a dash across No Man’s Land without a shot being fired at them.

It was noon when the patrol carried out its rush to the American line. The men’s comrades, looking on, expected every second to see them wiped out, nnd their safe return was an agreeable surprise. They explained that they had lost their way In the dark. The enemy artillery has not resumed Its activity. The American guns effectively shelled the enemy first lines and also a town behind the German lines, where buildings their troops were using were destroyed. There was much aerial activity throughout the day, the American antiair battlers driving off a number of enemies. Three U. 8. Armies Face Foe. The American troops In a new sector are training with French troops as at the Chemin Des Dames position. This makes the third American force now facing the enemy. During several days of the Americans* service here, the casualties have been extraordinarily slight, as the sector is one of the quietest. The lines are far apart and the position is held by strong points rather than by continuous trenches. Officer Captures German. An American staff colonel, while with a French raiding party for the purpose of securing information a few days before his men took up their positions in the new American sector on the Lorraine front, met a Prussian lieutenant tn an enemy trench and captured him. The colonel, with an American captain, brought the Prussian officer back to the lines the Americans are now occupying. U. S. Wins Clash In Lorraine. Paris, March 8. —An official statement issued by the French war office, announcing the repulse of German raiding forces on trenches held by Americans in a new sector of the Lorraine, says: "North of the Chemin Des Dames nnd east of Courcy French troops conducted successful raids on the German trenches and brought back about twenty prisoners. “In Lorraine a German raid on trenches held by American troops was repulsed. Patrols of our allies operating in this region took some prisoners. “In the Vosges the enemy made several vain attempts to reach the French lines.”