The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-03-01
Heavy Artillery Wipes
Out German Batteries.
Ammunition and Gas Tanks
Are Blown Sky High.
AIRMEN LOCATE GAS BATTERY
Enemy Shell Kills Two Men on
Z. S. Supply Train.
Germans Make Desperate
Charge, but Are Repulsed.
By the Associated Press.)


With the American Army in France,
Thursday. Feb. 2S.-Swift retribution
has fallen upon the German batteries
which this week bombarded the Amer
lean trenches northwest of Toul with
concentrated its fire on the German
minenwerfer batteries for half an.
hour today and obliterated the posi-
ton. Many direct hits with high ex-
plosive shells were made by the
American gunners. Timbers were
thrown high in the air and explosions
gas resulted. The ground about the
German batteries was churned upside
down and if there were any German
death.
Six Gas Victims Dead, so in Hospitals.
Thus far six men have died from
the effects of the German gas shells.
More than 80 are in hospitals suffer-
ing from gas Most of these cases.
however. are slight and only one man
is reported to be in a grave condition
Airplane photographs aided the
American gunnerS in their destructive
fire against the German batteries The
photographs, taken yesterday disclosed
the exact location of the minenwerfers
with the result that it did not take the
gunners long to even up the score with
enemy. While the number of enemy
shells falling within the American
lines has decreased slightly in the past
"a hours, nevertheless, the artillery
fighting has been lively.
Shell Hits Ammunition Train.
While one empty ammunition train
was halted at place called Dead
mans point. "a stray enemy shell
dropped nearby and killed two men,
tWS horses who had run away and
wounded four men,.
II certain town behind the front
German shell exploded near the
door leading to a telephone dugout,
blocking the passageway. The opera
tors IN the dugout, altho in consider
able danger, continued to work the
important line at the same time call
ing for help. Soldiers were sent to
the dugout and the passageway re-
opened The American artillery has
kept up a constant harassing and de-
structive fire on many vital enemy
points such as crossroads and towns.
German working parties were dis
pcrSed effectively and once the 75'S
fired vigorously on a number of Ger
mans in a first line trench, quickly
blowing in the entire trench system.
Ground mist and rain have prevented
free observation but the guns have
the enemy targets SO well registered
that they have been able to work
effectively.
Huns Disastrously Repulsed.
Late this afternoon, the Germans
attempted to rctaliate for the destruc-
ticn of the minenwerfer batteries.
They bombarded the American heavy
artillery with their biggest guns but
their shooting had little effect
American patrols were all over No
Mans Land last night but did not en-
counter any Germans.
The American sector is now an
ocean of mud and constant work is
neces5ar-- to keep the trenches. gum
pits an dugouts free from water.
From information reaching the
American lines it is apparent the enc
my Is taking advantages of the low
visibility to do much work in his posi-
| tions Many noises of kinds impos-
sible to suppress and other informa-
tion make this certain.