The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-03-01
BATTERIES OF
MINEN WERFERS.
Are WIPED OUT
BY u. S. GUNNERS
Airplane Photographs
Show Exact Location of
German Guns
DIRECT HITS
THEN SCORED
Six Men Died From Gas
and Eighty Are in the
Hospitals
MOST OF CASES
ARE VERY SLIGHT
American Patrols Work
Freely Between Trenches
But Find No Enemies

with the American Army in
France, Thursday. Feb. 2s.-(By The
Associated Press. .)-swift retribution
has fallen upon the German batteries
which this week bombarded the Am
erican trenches northwest Of Toul
with gas shells. American heavy
artillery concentrated its fire on the
German minenwerfer batteries for
half an hour today and obliterated
the position.
Many direct hits with high ex-
plosive shells were made by the Am
erican Eunners. Tirnbers were thrown
high in the air and. explosions. prob
ably OF enemy ammunition and gas,
resulted. The ground about the Ger
man batteries was churned upside
down and IL there were any German
soldiers there they certainly suffered
death.
Thus far six men have died from
the effects Of the German gas shells.
More than eighty are In hospitals
suffering from gas poisoning. 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 destruc-
tive flre against the German bat
aeries. The photographs, taken yes
terday, disclosed the exact location
OF the minenwerfers with the result
that It did not take the gunners long
to even up the score with the enemy.
Lively Artillery Duel.
While the number of enemy shells
falling within the American lines has
decreased slightly in the last twenty
four hours, nevertheless the artillery
fighting has been lively.
While an empty American ammuni-
ton train was halted at a place
called Deadman's Point, a stray
enemy shell dropped nearby and kill-
ed two men, two horses who had run
away and wounded four men.
In a certain town behind the front
a German shell exploded near the
door leading to telephone dugout.
blocking the passageway. The
operators in the dugout, although in
considerable danger continued to
work the important line at the same
time calling for help. Soldiers were
sent to the dugout and the passage
way reopened.
The American artillery has kept
up a constant harassing and destruc-
tive IRE on many vital enemy points
man working parties were dispersed
effectively and once the 75s fired
vigorously on a number of Germans
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 effec-
lively.
Late this afternoon the Germans
attempted to retaliate for the
destruction OF the minenwerfer bat
teries. They bombarded the Ameri-
can 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 encounter any Germans.
The American sector lis now an
ocean Of mud and constant work is
necessary to keep the trenches, gun
pits and dugouts free from water.
From information reaching the
American lines 1t is apparent the
enemy Is taking advantage Of the low
visibility to do much work in his
positions. Many noises of kinds inn
possible to suppress and other
information makes this certain.