Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-03-02
Germans Open Fire on the
Americans, in the Sector
North of TouI, With Every
Weapon at Their Command.
"A PERFECT HAIL
OF SHELLS FALLS
Sammies' Trenches Are Sub
jeCted to Bombardment for
Half an Hour Preceding the
Infantry Attack.

tsv soRNlso JOURNAL SPECIAL LkAsED ~issI
With the American Army in France.
March (By the Associated Press) -
American troops repulsed a strong
German attack this morning in the
salient north of Toul. There were
many American casualties one of tho
killed being a captain who was grad
uated from West Point in 1917.
The raid was complete failure.
three German prisoners remaining in
American hands. The ground in front
of the American trenches was strewn
with German dead.
A driving wet snow was falling this
morning when the Germans opened
fire on the American salient with
every weapon at their command.
Seventy heavy shells and gas
shells fell in perfect whirlwind on
the American trenches for half an
hour. At the same time other enemy
shells in great numbers were drop
ping on the American battery posi-
tions.
Misjudged Americans.
The Germans, evidently thinking
that the Americans in this section,
having had one taste of gas few days
ago, would fear it now. iet loose great
quantities of poisonous gas. but the
men put on their masks and only a
few were affected by it. So intense
was the fire that the woods back OF
the salient were shot to pieces.
At o'clock the barrage fire lifted
on the trenches to the right of the
salient and Germans numbering 240
came sweeping forward under the
protection of their fire. They came
forward apparently intending to make
IA big haul and jumped into what was
left of the trenches, but there instead
of the easy time anticipated, found
the Americans all ready for battle.
Fierce hand-to-hand fighting began.
One American captain rallied men
with rifles and machine guns and
went through the American wire en-
into No Mans Land and
there waited for the enemy, whom he
expected TO be driven out by bis COM
rades in the trenches.
West Pointer Killed.
He was right, for soon groups OF the
enemy started back through the wire
entanglements. The Americans pour
ed in a deadly fire, but unfortunately
the captain was killed during the
fight. He Is the first member of the
1917 class at West Point to be killed
While the Americans were In front
of the wire entanglements and In
shell holes still fighting desperately
the American barrage fire began
sweeping No Mans Land, catching
many running Prussians who had
enough of American methods. The
barrage swept back and forth. max
ing sure OF doing all possible damage
to the foe.
Bodies of Ten Found.
When the enemy had been driven
back out of the positions, the bodies
of ten German soldiers were found in
the American trenches Two German
officers were entangled in the wire
and many bodies were in sight Eight
were visible through the snowstorm at
pne point. The ground was Uttered
with enemy hand grenades, boxes OF
explosives for destroying dugouts and
incendiary bombs which they had no
opportunity to use.
They managed however, to drop in
cendiary bombs in two dugouts which
were destroyed by fire, but no Amcri-
cans were in them. II the Germans
captured any prisoners, which II Is
doubtful, there were not more than
two or three possibly from listening
post. OF the missing, many probably
we're buried. Digging for them now
is proceeding and others may be ac-
counted for.
Two Germans Wounded.
Two German prisoners were
wounded and the other taken was un-
hurt except for welt on one of his
hands where he was struck by young
American soldier when he showed
fight after capture.
From the prisoners the American
officers have secured much valuable
information. One said:
II did not have chance to do any
thing before an American jumped
onto me and grabbed me by the
throat"
The Germans had been preparing
for the raid for three weeks and be-
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