Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-11
AMERICANS ASSIST
IN RAID At DAWN
U. S. Patrols Also Make Dar-
ing Attacks at Apremont as
French Win Success.
LONE SOLDIER PAvES WAY
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
FRANCE. May 10.-The American ar
tillery participated and the American
infantry lent some assistance in a sue
cessful French raid in the Apremont
forest. northwest Of Toul, at dawn to-
day. The American batteries, acting
with the French artillerists. in a heavy
two hours bombardment, were show
cred with gas shells by. the Germans.
Slightly to the east of the section
raided American patrols created a di-
version. One patrol entered Apremont
village. which was found to be desert
ed. This provoked a German barrage
while the men. were returning.
Another patrol cut the enemy's first
system of barbed wire and was en-
gagged ON the second ENHANCEMENT, ten
yards from the trenches, when it was
attacked by. fifteen Germans. using
rifles. bombs and pistols. The Ameri-
cans fought for fifteen minutes and re-
tired, without suffering casualties, on
the approach of enemy reinforcements.
On the Luneville sector quiet pre-
vailed.
American Shells Cause Fires.
American batteries bombarded the
enemy lines heavily last night, the
shells causing fires in the villages of
Cantigny and Mesnil st. Georges, west
of Montdidier. held by the Germans
German patrols continue active along
the front One attempted to rush
American outposts. but was driven off
by brisk rifle fire.
An American outpost caught a Ger
man trench dog. The pouch about it's
neck contained message that the
German retaliatory fire was falling
shells were landing in Cantigny This
confirmed previous information report
ed by American outposts.
Previous to the American raid into
the village of Apremont a private car
ried out single handed Thursday after
noon an incursion into the village and
brought back the report that it was
deserted. This was confirmed by the
who is a striker" for the lieutenant
who conducted this mornings patrol.
learned what the lieutenant planned to
do and decided to beat him into the
village.
Signal for Barrage.
Immediately after dinner Thursday
the private slipped out from behind the
American barbed wire and crawled
across no mans land without being oh
served. He reached Apremont, crawIed
about the outskirts and returned with
the information that only few Ger
mans were there. The patrol this morn
Ing encountered two Germans in the
village. They retreated hastily when
the Americans attempted to capture
them and signaled for a barrage, which
was laid across the path of the patrol
as it returned to the American lines
prisoners hy
French in Apremont forest this morn
ing confirm reports of American aerial
observers that American shells recently
demolished f1ammenwerfers brought IN
for an attack on the Americans near
Apremont. The artillery concentrated
Its fire on this spot after German
prisoner had reported that an attack
was coming from that direction,
Was Idol of Soldiers.
Maj. Andrew Rasmussen of Portland
Ore. who was killed few days ago
while leading accommodating party
on the American front in Picardy, was
the idol of his men because of his utter
fearlessness.. He passed unwounded
through revolutions in Central America
and more severe fighting with Gen
Carranza's forces in Mexico, and finally
through two years of service as a
major with the Canadian army.
He was detailed by the British last
October to assist in trainipg Americans
in bayonet fighting. and later was sent
to an American Army school as in
structor. In Jsnuary he was trans
ferred to the american Army with
majors commission.
Mai. Rasmussen was Immediately
given command of a battalion and went
into action on the front northwest of
Toul. where he suffered slightly in
gas attack.
On the night this battalion was moved
from its billets into the line Of the
Picardy front Maj. Rasmussen joked
with several correspondents while the
German shells were bursting in the
a few kilometers in the rear.
He told them they might have his
uniform, helmet and other things in
case he was killed. Then he rode
laughing toward the trenches. =