The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1918-02-23
German Observation Points Are
MethCdiCaIIy Taken in OAR
ing Attacks.
HEROIC WORK or Blue Devils
First SpygIass Seizure Is Credited 70
chasseurs Who, in Sensational At
tack, Wipe Out Powerfully
Fortified Salient by Surprise.

With the French Armies in the Field.
French troops are methodicaIly TAX
ing away the German spyglasses.
One by one, enemy observation
points or advantageous positions have
been carefully spotted by the French
command and effectively eliminated.
Though French official communiques
issued have registered merely local ac-
tons. these have had for the main OBJ
jective that of snatching the binocu-
lars from the TeutOn eyes.
A brief artillery preparation, a
shrill whistle in the frst-iine trench,
and the Poilus have bounded lover
the top" in actions Of signal impor-
tance in Alsace, north Of the Chemin
Des Danes and north Of Verdun at
Hill 344. Nearly 1,400 prisoners and
valuable war material is the "by-prod-
uct" of these local, strategieal drives.
Won by Blue Devils.
The first ''spyglass" seizure was
that of the "SchonhOlZ," a powerful
fortified German salient jutting into
the French lines in Alsace, serving the
double purpose of German observation
of the French organizations and pre-
venting the French seeing In the dlrec-
ton Of Altkirch. On the afternoon or
November {. after brief but violent
artillery preparation. three companies
of the French Chasseurs-Blue Devils
attacked the SchOnhOlz. completely
wiping out the salient in fierce hsht
lasting into the night
The enemy desperately countar-at-
tackled. but failed leaving in ali ~
prisoners. including six officers. in the
hands Of the Blue Devils. Compete
German losses. high because or thelr
ferce effort TO retain a position when
they knew TO be Of extreme value were
estimated at at least 600 men.
The following day a French general
nnnnd military medals on the blue
funlcs of two adjutants and a cor
moral for exceptional valor. Ihoush
therc were no such medals In the us
trict the general sent fast automo-
Milo to find them, wherever posslpie'
and the little presentation ceremony
,n an Alsacian ,lage was a happs
aftermath of a vi. DRY that took from
the Germans pa teless observations
which had bothefed the french LOT
two years. sa;soa
The French cor. lmand next decineo
+ha+ the Germart were seeing too
much north of the, Chemin Des DANES
ICorsecuently following brlef arui-
lery deluge four companies OF rolIus
nassed to the attack against the ehens
Zines forming salient between 'hs
.nou River Misotte and the route oi
.ba German-held village or JouSih-
oo,r+ &C far as the village OF Nllie-au-
pois Here the enemy held vaiuaoie
observation posts overlooking 1o"r -,
court and ground each OF 'i'e vi
cite. ., =
,7,dar ,ow-lying clouds ana III
.neo-soup" fog, the former lie'e
~. -, aerial work and the iafter pre-
.t;no opemv observation OF the au-
r,nce thc French infantrSihen' ~ 80
+ban an hour swept over positio"s "a
eront If 1900 yards and penetraieu
dontb of over half a mile. lhes
.,,oa ont the salient, took al lile w
80 and captured 40 prison.
ors-a number almost equal 70 nan u
The entire attacking force slN fol felI
NY nf5cers and As under officers 1ell
into the net.
THO third and most important :
wrench action of November vas ~ :
region where constant hellish ,1 hgh. alt
n la mo right bank Of the Neuse, n'r. ~.
o.' 1 W. Here drumlike artlilers
y :. has never ceased, night ana o"S'