Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-11-05
Scout. PARTY
Probably Was Taken by
the Germans
Washington Opinion In Regard to
North American Soldiers" Taken by
German Patrols-No Confirmation
from Gen. Pershing of Berlin Claim

Washington. NnE. 4.-Berlins tcrse
announcement Saturday tIfat North
american soldiers had hen captured
hy German patrols on the Rhine
NaInc canal on Tie French front
brought ia. American people step
I'earcr t" III" heart of the great strus-
I'D.
There wa4 n" doubt here that the
rIcn referred t" we're members Of Gem
'ral Pcrshin-'s force undergoing final
rainiu@ with French regiments in
front iinc trenches Confirmation from
General 'ersi-ing was lacking. bur in
dGc course he wiil transmit the names
81 any men MISSING and that may fur
u ISL = mo light
Probably Scouting Party
-, as is assumed. y small scouting
party MIS- surprised by q German pa
ii"l in 80 Mans Land and all cap
tur"'i, details of The incident never may
lee fuli, tnld. since rnly captors and
'"rtiyes would know What happened in
to-" crc"unicr under cover uf dark
ncss
IHls j iHc first report received here
81 Tie 'ap;EIc ~ a@y members of the
'''''' y gu - 'tNIii''itGlA tDI'PS, bUt a
number Of naval Gunueis taken from
American armed Ships sunk by sub
WatincS and civilian members of the
crews "f "t'icr ships are held in Ger
man prison camps.
FNcrN night The scouts creep out
Win id'c hlsrhcncd to guard against
IN" keen vision Of enemy lookouts.
ihrN 20 creeping across the siell-torn
ground u "a the enemy's entsneIc-
'hthtS. crawling and listening drop
p!nS fiat when fare breaks out in the
ar above them. sometimes living alb
""htelY SIN for hours while rifles and
machine guns hammer above them.
NOT / night passes on many parts of
llnc bat Patrols encounter each ,ther.
N"nctiHes it results in firing. hut shat is
seldom for the menace of the opposing
ii"nrh lines. with rifles ma hine guns
ind ST AZ rockets ready to burst out at the
sughtest hint of danger, hangs over friend
C"rd foe alike
Hand to Hand Work
tsutlN orc patrol discovers the other
ana stalks il stealthily A time comes
when n surprise attack can be made |.
IS sA"iit, silent, hand-to-hand work ana
iarei! Is shot fired. The victor carrie
Oh his prisoners and when morning comes
report goes back on the other side OF
the Inc that patrol Of so manNmen Is
missing. That is all that is known
of'ers believed that this is what hap
r'ned to the French-American front. Had
there l.een any firing or had members OF
tie patrol made their way back to the
rench-American trenches, General Per-
Sning PROBABLE would have reported m
media ~. As it was. he probably was
Waiting to make certain that the missing
f'cn wore not hiding in d shell hole until
d"rh came again to give them opportul-
ATTY TO make their way into their own
Ines.
II WAS agreed that the loss Of the pa
troll might have a very salutary effect
Upon American troops in the front line
They are Young, in perfect physical con-
clifton and fairly longing for a chance AT
the enemy. 1t has taken all the authority
OF their officers to curb their desire TO &c
over aud share in the daring work OF
tpenCh raidng. Men who have spent
their lives in the arp,y know what the
situation might he. They hopeful
that tho lesson of caution will be brought
home 20 the men by The loss OF this party