The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-03-02
RAIN SHELLSAND
GAS ON U. S. men
Germans Start Drive on the
American Line Northwest of
TouI; Duel Intense.
YANKEE RESPONSE effective
Heavy Raids Increase All Along West
Front, With Heavy Artillery Ac-
tivity Everywhere-Raid VOL
unteers Eager for Action.

With the American Army In France
Feb. 27.-The artillery conflict in the
American sector northwest Of Toul
grows more intense daily. The Ger
mans fired hundred or more shells
In the last "a hours and late in the
evening began to lombard violently
some of the American batteries with
gas and high explosive shells.
The American artillery has replied
constantly, doing most effective work
against the enemy front line trenches,
his battery positions and wire entan-
clements. Numerous working parties
of the enemy also were shelled. Be-
yond observation by balloons there
has been no aerial activity owing to
the low clouds and rain.
American machine guns last night
and this morning fired many thousand
rounds on the rear of German posi-
lions, where marked movement Of men
and material progresses. The enemy
tried unsuccessfully to hinder the
American patrol work by hurting new
and powerful flares into the American
wire entanglements.
Details of the Franco-American raid
in the Chemin des Danes Saturday
show that 26 picked American soldiers
participated, after every member of
their battalion had volunteered.
First Action Behind Barrage.
The American moved forward Gag
erly to the attack behind q barrage
fire, the first time this has been done
|, by our troops, Some of the Americans
glasle eaIturas ssathers chased PEusr
sian troops through the trenches as
far as 750 meters (about 2,4O0 feet),
going beyond the detectives sought.
The raid had been planned carefully
and rehearsals were held the day be-
fore. The barrage fire began at 8 80
o'clock in the morning and continued
until 6:35, guns of all caliber taking
part.
The Americans among the 100 in
the attacking party were surprised at
the precision with which the French
shells fell and went a little faster
than they should have and were with
In 30 yards of the dropping shells
when they reached the enemy's lines.
Relief had just been completed in the
German trenches and officers were
making the rounds. The Germans took
shelter In dugout rooted with rails
and sandbags. A French shell made q
direct hit and the enemy scattered
about the trench. At the same moment
the American and French jumped in.
Take Entire Party of Enemy.
There was some hand-to-hand fight
ing, but the entire enemy party at this
point was captured. The raiders
chased the enemy out Of other shelters
and along communicating trenches
without catching any. There was some
criticism of the fact that the Ameri-
cans were so enthusiastic that they
went beyond the detectives.
The raiders and prisoners started
back across No Mans Land on sched-
ule time, but were caught in German
counter-barrage. One enemy shell
wounded five Germans and six French
men but no Americans.
The prisoners were from sixteen to
forty years old All apparently were
undernourished, but said that food was
plentiful In the trenches. The similarity
of their stories, however, aroused sus-
picions. Most of the prisoners for
merly worked in factories.