The sun., 1918-04-23
Pershing's Men Used Sawed
Off Shotguns to Nov
Down Storm Troops.
DEAD sTREw GROUND
Americans Put Up Des.
perate Resistance in vii.
lage of Seicheprey.
MANY PRISONERS TAKEN
Engagement the Most Serious
in Which Our Troops Have
Been Involved.
MANY PRISONERS TAKEN

SpecoI Oespdfch to XHB oCS.
WASHINGTON +hpri ~. - Seererary
Baker Is understood to have received
reports from Gen. Pershing concern.
ing the night at seicheprey and the vi
cinity between American and German
troops. Tho reports are said to show
that the engagement was by far the
most serious in which American troops
so far have participated, lasting con-
tinuously from dawn until late in the
afternoon.
In conformity with the new War
Department regulations that all news
from the battle zone be given out by
Gen. Pershing Secretary Baker does
not feel at liberty to make public the
contents Of Gen. Pershing's dispatches.
In place Of an official statement from
Secretary Baker, however, there are
numerous reports circulated in army
circles as to the part which the ad-
vices show was played by the Ameri-
cans.
German Losses Exceed Oars.
1t is understood that Gen. Pershinx
COOS not minimize the American losses.
which are understood to have been
more than 200. At the Same time the
War Department after receiving the
report OF Gen. Pershing declined TO
deny the Berlin report that 1s3 Ameri-
can prisoners were captured. 1t also
~ saA4 THAT in his message Gen. Per-
sh!n1 estin,ated the German losses
Largely In excess Of those Of the Ameri-
cans. Unofficial opinions tonight
placed the German losses at from 800
to 500.
Almost 500 were accounted for in
the fighting near Seichcprey, and IA
addition 1t Is understood that a con-
siderable number Of German prisoners
have been captured by the French and
Americans In the counter assault
which drove the enemy back from the
sdvanced position he had temporarily
gained.
secretary Baker will appear before
the House Military Committee to.moy-
row and at that time 1t is believed he
may make public the report Of Gen.
fershing. providing that additional de-
tails are received. II is understood
that he Is awaiting a further report or
additional facts before giving the pub
lie the text OF the message of the
American commander.
one particularly interesting bit OF
Information concerning the resistance
which Americana have on this and
previous occasions offered to the Ger
man storm troops is that the Ameri-
cans have surprised the advancing
Germans by making effective use Of
sawed of double barrelled shotRuns Of
tho type used by stage coach driver.
in the West.
Has 10000 such Arms.
1t Is said that Gen. rershine soma
time ago surprised the War Department
o! putting In request for 10000 Of
these weapons. Officers here who have
Deen following the practice OF giving
fersh'nG what he wants we're at a loss
10 know Just what he intended to do
with them. II Is nov reported that men
In the American sectors which tho Ger.
mans attacked were armed with thess
snotguns as additional weapons Of de.
renee ana that the sprays OF widely scat.
tered buckshot tended to break the mo.
raie OF the advancing Germans
AS to the fighting near Se!cheprey, IL
Is understood that the Germans began
sending over quantities Of poison gas
shells during the night preceding the
attack. At the same time a steady and
severe bombardment OF the American
trenches was maintained. This served
as warning to the Americans that az,
infantry assault was sure to follow a.
dawn and their predictions were borne
out. for the German shock troops cam,
over In force early in the morning
Compelled TO Weld Seichepre,.
The attacking waves Of Germans met
with effective resistance at nearly All
points. but the enemy managed to get q
foothold In few places and by throwing
in overwhelming numbers at these points
| they forced the issue and made II neces-
| sary for the Americans to fan back The
development Of the German attack neces-
| STATED the evacuation Of the village Of
! Se!cheprey by the Americans and Eay @
| the Germans distinct initial advantaE.
! Pershing's men, however. were at once
gathered for counter assault and
French troops which had become In
volved In the German advance cooper
ated with the Americans. This counter
attack was launched about noon and
| was carried through with such elan that
the Germans were driven out OF Seiche-
prey and also out OF a neighborinE
woods where they had attempted TO
| make y stand By late in tho afternoon
! the American position was restored and
the Germans had left the ground strewil
| with dead.
| Tho Americans tnus far captured by
the Germans and now confined In prison
| camps arc in better condition and re-
! ceiving better treatment. according ia
reports made to the American Red
| Cross here by inspectors Of the Spanish
Government. than 10 indicated by storiss
which have come to this country
through news channels. The Red Cross
! onicisis have not been able - verify