Evening star., 1917-11-05

In the early dawn of Saturday
German raiding party swept over the
paralet near a trench occupied by an
American company and. after briet
encounter. retired to their own earth
works. Gen. Pershings first dispatches,
announced at the War Department ear
ly today, reported that three Americans
were killed, five wounded and twelve
! captured in the engagement.
Official Statement.
The official statement issued by the
War Department, with the casualty list.
| follows:
The War Department has received a
dispatch from the commanding general
OF the American expeditionary forces
which stated that before daylight No
vember 3 a salient occupied for instruc-
tion by company of American infan-
try was raided by Germans. The enemy
! put down heavy barrage fire, cutting
off the salient from the rest of the men.
Our losses were three killed, five
wounded and twelve captured or miss
ing. The enemy losses are not known.
one wounded German was taken priS-
oner.''
The United States troops. in charge
of veteran French soldiers. were taken
to a quiet portion of the long line that
runs from the North sea to Switzer-
land, and for few days conditions
were normal. Cable dispatches for the
past tWenty-four hours have been tell
ing of activities somewhat above
normal" but still not of anything
like the furious fire on other portions
of the front.
, Saturday rather cryptic Berlin official
announcement told of North American
prisoners being brought in, and that is
taken here to refer to the soldiers who
Gen. Pershing's dispatch says are captured
or missing.
Many French and British military
| ,-f.ita 1,o,
commanders that Germany would
hurl terrific blows at the Amer
leans as soon news of their loca-
ton reached the German side, and when
the Americans went into the trenches War
Department officials here predicted this
might happen. 1t was pointed out that
this was a favorite trick of the Germans
when British terrtorials from Canada or
Australia went into the trenches for the
first time.
Berlin's Report Meager.
BERLIN. via London, November s.
Outside the brief reference in the gen.
eral staff report, no details are avail
| able here with regard to the capture
of the first American troops in France.
The official bulletin says they were
made prisoners in the region of the
Rhine Marine canal, in the section of
the front defended by the German
| crown princes army.
While the newspapers have played up
the capture of the Americans in their
headlines, the only comment is made
by the Lokal AnZeiger, under the cap
tion. Good Morning, Boys.' The
, newspaper then says: Three cheers
for the Americans. Clever chaps they
are. it cannot be denied. Scarcely have
they touched the soil of this putrefed
Europe. when they already are forcing
their way into Germany. Before long
they will cross the Rhine and also
enter our fortresses. That is express
train speed and American -smartness.
at is our good fortune that we are
equipped to receive and entertain nu-
merous guests. and that we shall be a BILE
to provide quarters for these gentle
i men. However. cannot promise
them doughnuts and jam, and to this
extent they viii be obliged to recede
from their former standard of living.
They probably will become reconciled
to this, for soldering is ever a risky
business.
Another Bit of Sarcasm.
above all, they will find comfort in the
| thought that they are rendering their
almighty president, Mr. Wilson, valua-
BILE services. inasmuch as it is asserted
he is anxious to obtain reliable infor-
nation concerning conditions and sem
timents in belligerent countries
In this way he will obtain frst-hand
| information about things in Germany
! AS Americans are accustomed to
= y4l