Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-06-17
HUNS HIT
U. 5. Line
IN ALSACE
American Machine. Gunners
and RifIemen RepuISe attack
on Sector Recently 0Ccu-
pied in German Territory.
(By Associated Press.)

With the American Army IN
France, June 16-Americans
machine gunners and riflemen
repulsed a German attack on
the American sector in Alsace
this morning.
About 600 German shock
troops raided the American
first line positions at the village
Of Xivray, in the Toul sector,
early this morning. Some of
the enemy got into Xivray, but
were soon driven out. AT
other points the Germans were
badly beaten.
The attack began at o'clock in
the morning after an extremely vio-
lent bombardment. The Germans ad-
vanced swiftly to the attack, but were
met by heavy fire. Those who pen
etrated Xivray were forced speedily
to Withdraw, and elsewhere the enemy
were completely repulsed in hard
fighting lasting more than two hours.
Fight With Bayonets.
According to prisoners the objective
Of the enemy was to take American
prisoners. This failed, as no Amer
ican is reported missing.
Evidently angered by the failure,
the Germans continued an intcrmit-
tenNshelling of the villages in the rear
throughout Sunday. Some of these
points were not less than eight miles
behind the line.
The American. troops engaged at
close quarters the small German force
that entered Xivray. There was Sc
we're, fighting with bayonets and
clubbed rifles. The Germans left nine
dead in the streets, and six prisoners
were taken, two of them officers, one
of whom was wounded.
An American observation balloon
was shot down this morning by a
she'll from German gun. There were
aon, no sasualtl' asa result OF the Incl
Thiacourt Line Raided.
A German raiding party of $50 men
and three officers attacked the Ameri-
can line south of Thiacourt at 2
a. m. Saturday. As a result the
enemy lost at least 20 killed, of whom
one officer and four men died in the
American trenches. The American
casualties were light and the Ameri-
cans took one wounded prisoner.
The artillery firing in the Toul sec
tor diminished last night. The visibili-
ty today was poor. 1t is confirmed
that the American bombing airplane
set aire the roundhouse at Contianse
in the Friday afternoon raid.
German prisoners report that two
German divisions which had been en-
route to the rear of their lines for
several weeks rest after taking part
in fhe Chateau Thierry offensive sud
denly were ordered back to the battle
line. Their new orders were: Hold
. back the Americans at any cost"
British Line Shelled.
London, June 16.-The Germans
late Saturday night carried out heavy
bombardments against British posi-
tions north Of Bethune and between
Locre and the Ypres- Confines canal,
says the British official communica-
tion issued today. The artillery was
particularly active early Sunday in the
reighborhood of Dickebusch lake. =
' Held at Matz River.
Paris, June l6.-German troops at
tempted during the night to cross the
Matz river near the Disc, but were
halted by the fire of the French, says
today's war Office statement. In local
actions northeast of the woods of
cenlis, south of Dammard and the re-
gion of Vinley northwest OF Chateau
Thierry), the French took 70 prisoners
and number of machine guns.