Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-02-19
YANKEES TAKE
LONGER LINE
FAMOUS BATTLEFIELD UNDER
GUARD OF AMERICANS AND
FRENCH TROOPS.

FAMOUS BATTLEFIELD UNDER
GUARD OF AMERICANS AND
FRENCH TROOPS.
Paris, Feb. 1s.-The Germans
last night made an attack on the
Champagne front, todays war Of !,
flee statement reports. They
.gained footing In the French
positions but after spirited en-
gasement were driven out
Grand Headquarters Of the French
Army in France, Feb. 16.-(Delayed)
and French troops for sew
eral days back have been holding in
unison the front line trenches on one
of the most famous battlefields of the
war, the name of which is known
throughout the world.
The immediate impression gained
by conversation with both French and
Americans facing the enemy side by
side is that the unison is not only Of
fighting forces but of firm purpose
to win victory by mutual aid.
ANXIOUS TO FIGHT
There is only one criticism to be
made in connection with the Ameri-
cans" said distinguished French Of
ficer to the correspondent, who spent
a whole day among the Americans
holding the line "They are too anx-
ious to get at grips with the enemy"
American officers confirmed this,
declaring that their chief trouble was
to restrain their men.
1t is inadvisable to designate the
units confronting the Germans, but
all the men are bending to their task
and they are anxious to have the peo-
pie at home know that they are well
and determined to perform to
their utmost the duties before them.
"HAPPY TO BE THERE"
"Tell the home folks that we are
happy to be in the fighting. The
work is hard and trying, but that is
Why we are here. Nothing could In
luce us to leave it until the job Is
finished and the Germans are beaten"
Such in substance are the express
,ions of dozens OF the American
:roops now carrying on in the actu-
Il fighting line. AS to the health OF
he men, today's record showed that
here were only three sick among the
entire force, comprising several tnou-
sands, and these are cases OF minor
The correspondent, In approaching
he center, passed again over ground
which had been the scene OF many
earful battles in the last year. Wild
vegetation hides some OF the WOUNDS
which have been inflicted on the earth,
tut ruined villages, disfigured ROADS
md enormous pit-like holes still testi'
v graphically to the violence OF the
ong -drawn-out struggle which resulted
n driving back the Germans.
ALLIED ARMIES UNITED
In the American fighting zone were
o be seen khaki-clad working parties
md messengers intermingled with
french soldiers in blue uniforms. The
Americans were busily occupied imme-
lately near the fighting line In Gre
ting and improving wire entangle-
nents and the trench systems. They
lad not liked this trying work while
t the training camps, but now they
ee the absolute necessity OF digging
q and they are putting all their Will
nd strength into the task.
Occasionally they are, disturbed by
he passage overhead Of German air
couts. who today displayed great
uriosity concerning what was pro-
eeding behind the allied lines. These
irmen were sometimes very daring,
nd then the air would be filled with
alls of smoke as the allied shells
urst along their paths.
WORKERS DEFY FOE
Meanwhile the work went on, the
americans thus engaged stopping now
nd then to observe the enemy air
aen.s efforts to escape from the wor-
ying antiaircraft guns. Several
ines in the course of the day salvo
I shells from the German batteries
anne over amidst the workers, but no
ne was hurt, for the men had learned
efore reaching the front how to act
4 such circumstances and their disci-
line was perfect.
Farther along toward the front line
he correspondent noticed an ever-tn-
reasing alertness among the Ameri-
an troops, and the actual front line
as reached after passage through an
lmost interminable, sinuous COM
lunication trench. Here all was acute
and nothing could turn
.om his immediate duty any Ameri.
an soldier in the line.
GUNNERS ARE ACCURATE
Across No Mans Land, where skill.
lily hidden were French and Ameri.
an detached posts, sentries and ma
hine gunners kept silent and tense
,okout for any enemy movement.
lille especially selected observers re-
orded the fall and explosion Of Ameri-
an shells from the batteries stationed
the rear, which from time to time
ounded the German positions with re-
accuracy.
The correspondent had before COM
e up watched these batteries and
able to testify to their efficiency.
hen an alarm was given the gun
ers who had been resting in under
round dugouts had taken their sta
ons and had their weapons laid on
le German positions assigned ready
fire within fifteen seconds.
RELATIONS ARE CORDIAL
The range and timing were wonder
lily correct. The correspondent,