Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-11-13
j. S. ART|LLER|STS
UNDER GAS ATTACK
ShrapneI Also Freely Used
by Both Sides In Sector
Held by Americans.

BY the Associated Press.
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
FRANCE. Monday. November ~
American soldiers are rapidly becom-
ing expert at patrol work, and their
officers say they conduct themselves in
no mans land as II they had been at it
for years. This Is explained partly by
the fact that activity in mo mans
land along the sector held by the
Americans virtually Is open warfare.
which is distinctly an American game.
Already stories OF the heroism of In
dividual soldiers during trench raids
are coming to light. A recent incident
involved five privates who rushed
from their dugouts as the Germans
entered the trenches. Standing, kneel-
ing and lying in front of the entrance.
they fred on the enemy SO successfully
that they prevented the Germans, who
made several attempts. from entering.
The American infantrymen in the
trenches and artillerists in the gun
pits have had their first real experience
with gas Rhells. The Germans have let
loose many during the last two days,
making the use of gas masks neces-
eary. Shrapnel also has been freely
used by both sides. During a recent
night the enemy machine guns were
again turned on the American trenches.
the Americans replying with an equally
vigorous fire.
Described His Experiences.
Tho lieutenant. who was knocked
down three times by shell fire during
the recent German raid in the Ameri-
can sector. today described his ex-
periences TO the Associated Press His
face is covered with scratches from fly
ing gravel
when the firing began l started back
to the trenches" he said The first
thing 1 knew there was n crash.
seemed to see sparks shooting from all
over my body. | started to crawl. and
It seemed ages before my face hit the
mud at the bottom OF the trench. Some
thing happened again q minute later.
Then I picked myself up and started in
another direction, corporal and two
man Joining me. shell burst a few
feet from US on the parapet. 1 lost
consciousness
When ! came to all was black and
grsnades we're flying in all directions.
had lost my shrapnel helmet, but feel
ing around with my hands, l found one
by the head OF a man who was lying
near me. ! put it on and started away.
stumbling over the body of the man.
who was corporal. / went on and
gathered some men. We spread our
selves out. expecting a heavy attack.
AZ . matter of fact. I found out later
that the raid was over and that the
grenadss we saw were being thrown by
retreattng Germans.
Troops Bear Up Well.
It IL the opinion Of all the officers that
tho troops are bearing up excellently
under their first experience in the
trenches. All are learning how to con-
duct themselves under fire and also that
shsllnre. even when intense. is not as
dangerous as 1t sounds.
So much ehrapnel has fallen since the
battalions Of the second contingent in
the trenches have taken their posts that
the men have ceased to worry about 1t,
hardly paying any moro attention to
1t than to rain The comma nder of one
battalion said that since the men had
entered the trenches mumps has caused
more Of them TO go to the hospital than
has the enemy.s lire. The firing in this
battalioa's sector has been rather more
Intense than Is usual for several nights.
A heavy she'll fell in machine gun
ammunition dump and exploded thirty
boxes, bullets flying in all directions
The men nearby threw themselves on
the ground and no one was hurt.