The sun., 1918-03-13
Only Few Wounded-Many
Of Enemy Killed in
DugOuts.
TOO QUICK FOR TEUTONS
Exploit Carried Out ut Top
Speed-COunter Attack
Baffled.
BOX BARRAGE EMPLOYED
Havoc Wrought by Heavy
Preliminary BOmburdment
No Prisoners.
roo QUICK FOR TEUTONS
BOX BARRAGE EMPLOYED


PARls. March 12.-An American de-
tachment in the Wouvre region has sue
cessfully carried out n surprise attack
on German trenches south Of Richecourt.
says the French official communication
issued to-day.
Richecourt lies in the sector taken
over by the American forces northwest
Of Toul. 1t is a short distance north
east Of Xivray.
The American troops east Of Lunevills
have again raided the German positions.
says the Associated Press correspondent,
artillery preparation. One platoon
moved across no mans land behind 4
barrage, entered the enemy lines and
penetrated some distance. with the OBJ
ject of ascertaining whether the Ger
man trenches were still evacuated. The
platoon found they were evacuated and
then returned without a single casualty.
The German artillery feehly engaged in
counter battery work against the Amer
lean guns during the operation.
An American raidng party entered
the German trenches along the Toul
sector at 6 o'clock yesterday morning
after an artillery bombardment Of forty
five minutes and brought back much ma
terial and information, but captured no
prisoners, says the Associated Press cor
respondent with the American Army in
France.
Attack Anticipated.
The raid was highly successful. as the
enemy withdrew MANY men from the
front line when the bombardment indi-
Gated that & raid might follow. The
raiders reported that American gunfire
had created destruction in the German
positions and had torn gaps In the
enemy barbed wire cntanglements. The
German batteries came into action, bu.
accomplished nothing toward disturbing
the progress Of the raid.
The Americans entered the enemy
trenches behind one side of n ''boX'
barrage. which moved forward In front
OF them. They found numerous Ger
mans hiding in the dugouts. In the
hand to hand fighting which followed a
number Of the enemy were killed anu
wounded and left in the trenches.
Going far beyond their objective the
raiders penetrated the German line 800
yards. few fights developed on the
way. but the Germans were driven oft.
The Americans failed to find most OF
the Germans, who had been withdrawn
they searched for them.
In the hand to hand fighting the
Americans used their automatic pistols
and rifles. During the raid the Amer;-
can machine guns placed barrage in
the enemy back areas In order TO pre-
vent n counter attack
The Americans fought so fast and did
their work so quickly that the medical
men who accompanied them had little
to do Every American who left the
front line returned,
Listening Post Silenced.
On their way back the Americans en.
ccuntered a German listening post, which
fired at them. In less time than 1t takes
to tell it the Germans In the post were
silenced.
The Americans reached their own
lines without one German shell having
fallen anywhere near them. for It was
all over so quickly the German batteries
did not have a good chance to get into
action. The Americans were inside tho
enemy lines for fifteen minutes
Sergeant Walsh. one of the heroes OF
the German raid on the Toul sector, who
later was awarded the Cross of War
with palm by Premier Clemenceau, has
been selected as orderly to Secretary
OF War Baker. Walsh. who Is ~ years
or age. left the billet town where his
regiment has been quartcrcd since it's
relief from the trenches after receiving
hearty congratulations OF officers and
men.