Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-11-04

WASHINGTON. Nov. 3-Beriin's
terse announcement today that
North American soldiers had been
captured by German patrols on the
Rhine Marne canal on the French
front brought the American people
struggle.
There was no doubt here that the
men referred to were members of
General Pershlng's force undergoing
final training with French regiments
In front line trenches Confirmation
from General Pershing was licking
but In due course he will transmit the
names OF any men missing and this
may furnish some light.
II. as is assumed. small scouting
party was surprised by German pa
troll in No Mans Land and captured.
details may never be fully told, since
only captors and captives would know
what happened In the encounter under
cover of darkness.
First Land Forces Captured.
This is the first report received here
of the capture of any member OF the
American eXpeditionary forces, but a
number of naval gunners taken from
American armed ships sunk by sub
Marines and civilian members of the
crews of other ships, are held In Ger
man prison camps.
Night patrolling is vitality impor-
tant part of the final training OF the
American forces as II Is upon these
patrols that the commanding officers
rely for information of activity In the
enemys front line.
Every night the scouts creep out
with faces blackened against the keen
vision of enemy lookouts. and a swift,
deadly spurt from machine gun.
They go creeping across the she'll
torn ground up to the enemy's en-
tanglements, crawling and listening,
dropping flat when n flare breaks out
In the air above them, sometimes ly-
ing absolutely still for hours while
rifles and machine guns hammer
above them
Raiding Done silently.
Not night passes on many parts OF
the line but patrols encounter each
other Some times II results In firing.
but that is seldom for the menace OF
the opposing trench lines where rifles,
machine guns and star rockets are
ready To burst out at the slightest hint
of danger hangs over friend and foe
alike.
Usually one patrol discovers the
other and stalks II stealthily. A time
comes when surprise attack can be
made. IL is n swift, silent hand to
hand work and rarely Is a shot fired.
The victor carries off his prisoners and
when morning comes report goes
back on the other side of the line that
patrol OF so many men is missing.
That Is all that is known.
Officers here believe that this was
what happened on the French -Ameri-
can front. Had there been any firing
or had members OF the patrol MADE
their way back to the French
American trenches. General Pershlng
probably would have reported i'm
mediately. As II was he probably Is
waiting to make certain that the
missing men were not hiding In a shell
hole until dark comes again to give
them opportunity 10 make their way
into their own line.
1t was agreed that the loss OF the
patrol might have very salutory eff
feet upon American troops In the
front line. They are young. in perfect
physical condition and fairly longing
for a chance at the enemy. Ii has
taken all the authority of their off
GERS to curb their desire to 20 over
and share in the daring work of
trench raiding, Men who have spent
their lives in the army know what tho
situation must be. They are hopeful
that the lesson of capture will be
brought home to the men by the loss
of this party.