The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-04-22
CAPTURE OF
1888 OF OUR
SOLDIERS IS
HUN CLAIM
American Troops on Sector
Northwest of Toul Drive
Enemy from Positions
Gained Saturday.
RE-ESTABLISH LINES
(By Associated Press.)

WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
FRANCE, Sunday. April 21.-Having
withstood violent German infantry
attack in force the American troops on
the sector northwest of Toul have driv-
en- the enemy from the positions he
gained Saturday and have restored the
situation completely. The American
main positions held out against the
enemy, but he occupied advance ele-
ments from which he was elected Sun
day by the Americans in counter at
tack. To the east, the French lines
also have been re-established.
Indications are that the Germans
intended to make the attack the start
Of an effort to separate the American
French troops and, perhaps, wipe out
the American sector. General Perish
ing's men, however. fought desperately
and only retired from Seicheprey be-
fore over-powing numbers. The enemy
was not able to hold the village and
soon evacuated it.
After the Americans had driven the
Germans from the occupied advanced
posts. the enemy did not attack again
and Sunday was comparatively quiet
east of st. Mihiel. The German Of
fensive which persisted through the
day and into the night. was preceded
by the most violent artillery fire, but
the Americans were undismayer and
stuck to their guns and trenches to
meet the enemy storming troops. Two
German airplanes were brought down
by American machine gunners.
Claim 1873 Prisoners.
Berlin, in its official statement, de-
scribes Saturdays action lengthily.
Admission is made that the fighting
was severe and it is claimed that 1873
Americans. including five officers and
% machine guns were captured
Heavy losses. it is said, were inflicted
by the Germans. That the effort failed
of its purpose is indicated by the an
nouncement that the attackers return
ed to their own positions under cover
Of night Berlin makes no mention of
French troops having been engaged in
this region.
(By Associated Press)
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
FRANCE, April 21.-Two lowfying
German airplanes were brought down
Saturday by American machine gun
ners during the German attack in and
dDOuJ ocICucpICs, HpA tLWCSC vi ioui.
The machine gunners who bagged the
Germans had been ordered to retire,
but they remained in their position
and fought effectively against the en-
emy aviators.
During the engagements the Ger
mans concentrated their artillery fire
on the American telephone and tele-
graph wires which were cut many
times Couriers were forced to pass
through two or three barrages In or
der to main communication. In the
meantime the men of the signal corps,
many of them smoking cigarets. in
face of a heavy bombardment, restor-
ed the wires almost as fast as the
enemy shells disrupted them.
One Leg Blown OF
Ambulance men ventured into No
Mans Land during the thick of the
fight and did heroic work in gathering
up wounded. One German who had
offered to surrender. attempted to eX-
plode bomb on the ground as three
Americans approached him. Another
soldier. however, discovered the trick
and hurled grenade at the German
One of the Germans legs was blown
off and he died later, prisoner Of the
men he attempted to blow up.
A village near the front lines which
the correspondent visited today tells
a mute tale of Saturdays fighting.
There are huge shell holes In the
streets and parts of the church and
other buildings have been blown off.
The enemy fire became so hot here
that Salvation Army girls who had
been serving coffee and doughnuts to
the Americans, were forced to leave.
The girls protested, saying they were
not afraid Of the Germans and wanted
to stav In their dugout. but the Off
GERS did not wish to take the respon-
sibility. AS they left. the girls were
cheered by soldiers returning from the