Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1918-02-14
j. S. TROOPS FIGHT
. ON GERMAN BORDER
American Force Occupies Sector
of Lorraine Front.
MANY BATTLES IN THE AIR
Airmen Are Active Along Front Held
by Pershng's Men-Artiliery on
Both Sides Is Busy-Two
Killed in Raid.

With the American Army in France,
Feb. 4.-American troops now are &C.
,cupying a sector of the Lorraine front
in France.
This announcement is permitted by
the military censOrs.
The whole American sector is re-
sounding with the boom of guns. Air
men became exceedingly active along
the American front during the day.
Under Heaviest Fire.
A German barrage fire at shutdown
opened the heaviest bombardment Of
many days along the American sector,
the American artillery replying shell
for shell as the firing of the heavy
guns spread along several kilometres
Of front.
Two Americans were killed and nine
wounded during the bOmbardment and
one suffered shell shock.
Wreck Dugouts.
1t was ascertained that the Ameri-
can gunners wrecked several Of the
enemy dugouts and so badly damaged
the first line positions that at one point
the Germans were unable to occupy
them Sunday.
When the bombardment had reached
it's greatest intensity the Germans sud
denly concentrated their fire at two
points, throwing about $50 shells into
town in which the headquarters of
q certain regiment are located and
which heretofore had been immune
to enemy fire.
Respect Red Cross.
After the bombardment a wounded
American soldier was discovered in
position where it was necessary to
carry him over a trench top to field
dressing station.
A medical corps man displayed the
Red Cross and the Germans ceased
firing until the man was removed.
Enemy snipers wounded two Amer
leans slightly early Sunday morning.
Number of Battles in the Air.
a shift of the wind cleared away the
mist which has hindered aerial opera
tons and other activities for several
days. A number of battles in the air
were fought by patrolling planes early
In the afternoon. In one instance the
French aviators defeated an attempt
of German flyers to cross behind the
American trenches.
The artillery and snipers also have
become increasingly active. Americas
75s are harrassing traffic behind the
enemy trenches.
Concentrates on u. S. Trenches.
The Germans are combining their fire
largely to the American trenches.
Throughout Friday night machine
guns ratified ceaselessly from German
positions.
The French commander of sausage
balloon squadron, who was an artillery
officer at Verdun during the heaviest
lighting and also participated in the
Somme offensive, declared that the
work of certain American batteries at
the front is almost perfect"
He was particularly pleased with the
work done by American guns in firing
on a German position in q wood, which
he observed from n balloon.
Location Revealed by Berlin.
The fact that American troops were
in the trenches in Lorraine was re-
vealed by the German war office three
months ago. At that time, according
to an official German announcement,
the Amelicans We're on the front at
the Rhine Marine canal, which inter-
sects the battle line near the German
border, due east of Nancy.
Since the battle Of Verdun there
has been no fighting of great impor
lance along this front. For the most
part it runs through high and broken
country.
1S Transports Reach France.
A French City, Jan. 31.-The pride
of Germany's and Austria's great mer-
chant fleets has brought thousands of
American troops to Europe to fight the
battle of democracy.
Permission was granted for the an
nouncement that Is former German
merchantmen and two former Aus
trian steamships have arrived in Eu-
rope, bringing great numbers of Amer
lean soldiers, and that their holds car
ried thousands of tons of supplies.