Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-04-21
MOST OF POSITIONS IS
APTURED BY ENEMY
ARE LATER RETAK'E[:ll'll IN
United States Aviators Down
Two Boches and Dispense !.
Several Others. ~.
..-.: s-.si.:
RENEWAL OF HEAVY FIGHTING
EXPECTEDON WESTERNF FRONT
Armies of Six Nations Are Pee
pared to Withstand As-.-s.ss.:::... !: !.
Saults. it}s
PRUSSIANS INACTIVE ON LES
British Forces Deprive Them-r,tyyf
Small Gains Made in Thnurs. :, ~:
days Battle.
British Forces Deprive Them-.stff
Small Gains Made in Thurs s..Ss
days Battle.
lBy Associated Press. !

IBy Associated PrcssI es.l..s
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMYfN
! FRANCE, April c0.-Twelve hunstra
German storm troops, the largest nun. InNuSss.
oeF ever concentrated against tha
american troops for an offensive on.
Grafton were hurled against 3E.
american positions on = one .mrrs
front west OF Renneres forest, north!
west OF Tout, to-day. after a terrint
'o"'oarntneat OF gas and high-exp pfos
,r, -.--t,s.
The enemy succeeded in penetrating
'he front-line trenches and takfnr.tb,
village OF Seicheprey. but. after fnr;.
Gus hand- hand lighting. which Evas
still going on at nightfau the Amer.
lean troops recaptured the villars-.xna
most OF the ground lost in the early
hshting No Americans were taken
prisoner. but three Germans were dan.
turcd. - ~ GIs. ~ 81 7sTs.:G Z N,
German airplanes, dying st ~ataio--
al'itude attemptedatto disorganixS ,,thA
american fighting men, but two ener,sy
aviators were brought down and til.
others driven OF.
The Germans suffered heavy casnaE
ties. and the American lines emaiaea
virtually intact. ~isss3
GERMAN AyIATORs USE, -!
GUNS on OWN Men
Inc German airmen poured machine.
gun hre into the American troops. hit
'he antiair batteries came into plarS
ana American airmen took the MIR
bringing down two of the ehamv
planes and dispensing the others. Tan
me American airmen returned safe1y.
inc attacking troops carried ratfofls
and intrenchins tools, indicating thar
they Intended to occupy tho American
positions for long period A hearr
maze overhuns the sector whenSs The
attack began. but later there SWa5
brilliant sunshine The American areils
'eFE'hen d!d valiant work, the aneiS
on many OF the batteries wcaring.sEas
masks
The enemy's casualties are beltssS4d
to have been the heaviest sustained, by,
them thus far in any operation acainst
American troops. Numbers OF German
dead arc lying in mo mans landns in
front Of the American trenches. t;!5
the correspondent viewed the bastl.
from hill a shor, distance beAt,d
'he lines. Trains moved 10 the frph.
with great regularity. and scoresrs az
huSe shells were seen bursting, throw,
ing up clouds of white smoke inafli,
neIShborins hills. The heavy rum hiinn
4
was heard all day "a:
The amhuianccs tore over the shetIs
torn roads and approached withir, "a
snort distance OF the front line. Num-
ners of men in the rear positions
begged their commanders TO be Sc At iiii.,,
10 assist the infantrymen bearing rho
brunt CT the attack. The men ofsa.J
services were eager for an opportunity
10 hsht the enemy in the open.
Inc resistance offered by the Ameri, Z
can troops was surprise to the ene.
my. who expected TO break through
with little difficulty.
Contrasted with the activity or tHs
Americans behind the lines. score, o =
ola men. women and children were seen
peacefully employed in the felds .ar,-.l
parent,y unmindful of the fnrin,,,.
hshtinS which is going on less tha1;;
hNc miles cway. The troops in nearby
towns eagerly sought news. expressins.
confidence in the Americans, and hon.
ing LOT the chance to take part. N
All the Americans moving to fhs-
front were in the highest spirits. and
waved their caps TO the cheering yiI.sE
layers. tsrs.Ss
TWENTY MILES OF FRONT
HELD by AMERICANS
The village Of seicheprcy, where tho
German attack occurred SATURDAY.. Il.
northwest Of Toul, and about seven {
miles east Of the forest OF Apremonty
where the Americans repulsed massas
OF German storm troops recently. The.
tact that American troops have been
on the sector north OF Toul has besns
known but the fighting at Seicheprex.
together with the report Of an engage
mcnt north OF ST. Mihiel, shows that
upwards OF twenty miles OF the line IN
that sector is under American contrAis
Snicheprcy lies among rolling hilis.
overlooking winding valley, which
runs off to the northeast The prob.
able objective OF the German attack.
there was to get possession OF a stra.-sf
tcgic road which parallels tho batux
line for fifteen miles. ss*.s
NEW DRIVE AT AMIENs rs1rs..eE
MAY BIZ NEXT
Renewal OF heavy hghting Is na1-ss3
mcntarily looked for along the wsss-s.
(Continued on Ninth Page.)