Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 100, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 March 1918 — U.S.TROOPS TAKE FOE’S TRENCHES [ARTICLE]

U.S.TROOPS TAKE FOE’S TRENCHES

Americans Occupy and Hold Oarman Positions in Luneviilo FIRST PERMANENT ADVANCE Gene Val Pershing Says Huinbow IHvision Repulsed Strong Teuton Raid—Guardsmen Praised. With the American Army in France, March 15.—American troops In the Luneville sector have occupied and are holding enemy trenches northeast of Badenvillers, which they forced the Germans to abandon through recent raids and concentrated artillery tire. The trenches have been consolidated with ours. This, though a small forward movement, marks the first permanent advance by the Amertcuu army In France. The consolidation of the trenches enables the Americans and French to operate from higher ground than heretofore. The Germans made only feeble attempts to retake the position, but each ttlhe were repulsed. Washington, March 15—American troops-that repulsed the German raid on March 5 were from the Forty-Sec-ond orßainbow division, Which Is made'up of National Guardsmen, General Pershing reported. The commander of the American division was personally congratulated by General Gerard, commander of (ho Eighth French army, for the mnnner In which the Americans conducted themselves.

The One Hundred and Forty-ninth artillery, formerly the First Illinois artillery, Is part of the Rainbow division. Col. Henry ,L Reilly Is commander of the One Hundred nnd For-ty-ninth. Four groups of German gas projectors, In addition to the group of 200 projectors already reported destroyed, have been discovered and likewise blown to pieces by the American artillery. Probable German plans for gas attack on a comparatively large scale against the American positions northwest of Tool have Unis been upset. Blow Up Ammunition Dumps. The American artillery on this front has been more active than ever In the last fifteen hours, nnd Its sheUe also found lodgment In a number of ammunition dumps, which were blown up; Many extensive explosions are reported. Explosions and fires also were Caused by our shells in villages nnd n number in the woods behind the enemy front. During a retaliatory shelling from an enemy bombardment, fti which a number of gns shells fall on our battery positions, the American guns silenced certain German batteries by pouring in a fast and extremely accurate fire. The American artillery also tore great gaps in the enemy wire and leveled portions of the first and second line trenches, forcing the enemy virtually to übandon them. Artillery fire of quite a lively character Is continuing In the sector <<ast of Luneville. So far as Is known, the Germans have not yet reoccupled their first and second lines there.