The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1918-02-21
Troops Forced to Lie On "No Mans
Land" Until Huns Cut Off EIec-
tricity. Penny in III. Boys
Pocket Saves His Life.
(By Fred S. Fergusonl

he ascertained is becoming rapidly
effective while the men at the rear
are becoming very anxious to- take
their turn In the front line trenches.
Gen. Pershing picked his way and
pushed through the trenches and en-
erged with the same spotless step
that made him marvel in Mexico
where it was said that he could go in
to the dirtiest places without even
getting his shoes dusty
Penny Saved Soldiers Life.
A penny saved the life of an Alton,
Illinois, boy with the American forces
in France. Theodore Gravely was in
the front line trenches when an enemy
bullet cut through Z lefthand upper
coat pocket containing the penny and
was detected. Otherwise it would have
pierced his heart. The battered penny
has been sent home by Gravely
Portuguese Troops Take Prisoners !
London, Feb. 1S-Fortuguese troops
were active on the west front again
today Field Marshal Haig reported in
his official war office statement to-
night. ,... O.. .l.t . su.t.
They took few German prisoners
in the neighborhood of Neuve Chap
ellie.
One of the British patrol forces
drove off a hostile raiding party near
Gavrelle, the statement added.
Several casualties were inflicted on
the enemy in patrol encounters in the
Messines Sector" HI
Enemy Claims 16 Planes.
Berlin, Feb 1S.-Sixteen enemy
planes and four captive balloons have
been brought down in the last two
days the German War office announc-
ed today. Artillerying was the only re-
port concerning operation on the west
\ front. -, q
Americans In Tight Place.
With the American Army in France
Feb. 1S.-An American patrol having
passed the first line of German en-
tanglements and approached the sec
off by a current of electricity along
the first wire line. o..
Instead of attempting an immedi-j
ate return to their trenches, which
would have meant certain death from
ActrOcution or machine gun fire, the
Americans chung close to the, earth
and later when the electricity was
cut off, returned in safety to their
positions.
Germans Make Gain
Paris, Feb. 1S-The Germans gain
ed a footing southwest of Dumesnil
woods where the American artillery
has been aiding the French after a
sharp fight which was preceded by
q heavy bombardment. They were
thrown back with a large loss Of
prisoners the official Statement an
nounced this evening. 81
One Iowa Boy Killed. "a
Washington, Feb IS. General
Pershing advised the war department
today that four American infantry
men have been killed in action, one
slightly wounded and two are miss
ing. Two men were killed February
8, one February and one on Febru-
airy IA. e..
The killed were:
Privatrs Ferdinand Saucrs, Wash /
ington, d.. c. ,
John J. White, Epworth., Iowa. I
James Novasconi, Ouray, Colo.
Louis w. Spacek, Oklahoma City,
Okla. f
Privates Edward Roberts. New
York City, and John w. Hill, Barry,
Ala, are missing, and Private Mar
shall r. Farnum, Inkster, North Da-
kota, was slightly wounded.
Huns Shell a Hospital.
With the American Armyin France,
Feb 1S.-An American field hospital
in town within our lines apparently
was the target for German airplanel
which few over it last night and drop
ped several unusually heavy bombs.
The hospital, in which were a mum.
Der of sick and wounded officers and y
men, was the building nearest the
places where tie German armen {
dropped two different sets of bombs
Fortunately none of the missiles
reached their mark although the
hospital patients and the residents
of the town were severely shaken by I
the explosions. American anti.air- 9
craft guns engaged the enemy. but
without success. The hospitaIlprob-lf
ably will be moved to a less dangrs 4
Ious spot. cP az sc
tln esnu3faf HTie