Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-11-04
Men of Pershing,s Force
Probably Surprised BY
the Enemy in .No
Mans Land.
tBy Associated Press. !

tBy Associated Press.I
WASHINGTON, November 3.---Rer-
lin's terec announcement to-day that
North American soldiers had been
captured by German patrols on the
Rhine-Marnc Canal, on the French
front. brought the American people
step nearer to the heart of the great
struggle.
There was no doubt here that the
men referred TO were members OF Cen
eral Perghing's force undergoing final
training with French regiments in
front-line trenches. Confirmation from
General Pershing was lacking. but In
due course he will transmit the names
Of any men missing. and this may fur
nish some light
II, as is assumed small scouting
party was surprised By German pa
trc1 in mo mans land" and all cap
turcd. details of the incident may never
be fully told. since only captors and
captives would know what happened
in the encounter under cover of dark
ness.
This Is the first report received here
Of the capture Of any members OF the
American cxpedtionary forces. but /
number OF naval SUnners taken from
American armed chips sunk by subma-
rines and civilian members of the
crews of other ships are held in Ger
man prison camps.
Night patrolling is 4 vitallv import
ant part of the iinal training Of the
American forces, as it is upon these
patrols that the commanding officers
rely for information of activity in the
encmy's front line.
PATROLS EVERY NIGHT
ENCOUNTER EACH OTIIER
Not night passes on many parts
Of tho line but patrols encounter each
othar. Sometimes it results in firing.
but that is seldom. for the menace OF
these opposing trench lines with rifles.
TO burst out at the slightes; .lint OF
danger. hangs over friend anC foe
alike.
Usually one patrol discovers the
other. and stalks it ,stealthiy, y time
comes when surprise attack can be
made. It is swift, silent. hand o-ha,id
WORK. and rarelyfis. shot, fred. The
victor carries Of! his prisoners. and
F." ''i aioi iihS CoEHtS 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-Amcri-
can front. Had there been any firing
or had members of the patrol made
their way back to the French -Amcri-
can trenches. General Pershing nrob-
ably would have reported Immediately.
il was agreed that the loss OF the
patrol might have a very salutary cf-
feet upon American troops in the front
line. 1t has taken all the authority
OF their officers 70 curb their desire to
go over and share in the daring work
OF trench raiding.
ONE OF INEVITABLE
FORTUNES OF WAR
Capture, killing and wounding of
American troops on the battle front.
OF course. VIII be one of the Inevitable
fortunes of war. Moreover, the German
high command has appeared very eager
TO capture some Americans, and re-
Gently the commanders on the front
offered special money rewards and
other inducements to the first German
troops who should take a man In the
American uniform.
Although the sector in which the
American unit is being hardened TO
trench warfare Is comparatively q quiet
one, however, there have been night
raiding parties on both sides. in which
American soldiers partiriputed--and if
some have been taken prisoner, it prob
ably was on one of those nocturnal eS-
ploits when the raj ideTs from the French
trenches met up with a German patrol
prowling about In mo mans land"
The government has taken steps TO
be assured that American prisoners in
German hands will fare as we'll as 1t
is possible to arrange it, and, indeed,
their lot may be better than the aver
age. Through the Red Cross at Geneva,
the government has arranged to pro-
vide food and clothing for American
prisoners SO they may not be forced
to depend on the insufficient. scanty
and constantly shrinking bounty of the
Germans.