Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-05-28
u. s. Troops Win
French Sector
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bardcd the American lines before the at
tack The Huns also dropped scores of
mustard gas shells along the American
front.
According to military experts. the Ger
mans purpose in attacking the American
lines was to feel out the strength of the
French and American force. AS result
of their curiosity they got severe
trouncing. The bombardment that
preceded the raid was one of the heaviest
American troops have ever felt 1t Is
estimated that 10000 shells dropped
within the American lines.
Five hundred picked shock troops at
tackled in the center and were supported
on one side by force of 20 and on the
other by force Of 100.
There were three distinct attacks The
FIRST, before Montaine- sous Montdidier.
was at 6;l5. The second and third were
launched simultaneously at 7:30 one to
the right of Cantigny and the other
again before Fontaine-sous-M M Montdidier.
Take Prisoner from Germans
In the first attack the retreating Ger
mans were taking an American pris-
oner with them, when several of his
comrades leaped from the trenches,
caught up with the boches, killed the
entire party guarding the prisoners
and brought him back
The second assault before Fontaine-
sous Montdidier was as violent as the
first, but the enemy was unable to pene-
trate the American lines. The counter
attack then carried the attack into the
boche line, which they helu lor more
than an hour.
Near Cantigny the Germans got such
a hot reception that they did not at
tempt to repeat the assault. Observers
reported heavy enemy losses, artillery,
machine gun and rife fire, cutting down
the advancing boches who left great
number of dead in No Mans Land.
The three attacks netted the Ameri-
cans five German prisoners. American
positions were considerably mauled by
the enemy artillery and the troops are
working hard to reconstruct them IT
preparation for a resumption of the
German assault.
Forced Bayonet Fight
The fighting was extremely bitter
Opposing forces clashed, hand-to-hand
in the midst of smashed sand bags and
cayed-in parapets. The Germans were
loaded down with hand grenades, but
the Americans rushed to close quarters
and forced the enemy to use bayonets'
Soldiers declare the Germans were
equipped with armored breast plates
which turned aside a bayonet thrust
unless II were in the neck or stomach
One company, counter-attacking before
Cantigny, penetrated the German lines
clear into the ruins of the village, where
they remained until called back. .-
This dispatch is being written in 6
dugout in the rear Of the front lines
and reports of the details of the fight
ing are coming in slowly.
Allentown Man In Thickest
l Just learned that three prlvates-
B. Rowden, of Kentucky; Joseph Law
renee, of Allentown, Pa, and A. d
Nolin of Providence, r. I.-were amonl
seyerai~wbo were buried for three o
four hours when their dugout wa
struck by a high-explosive shell. Thei
comrades dug them out under shellhre
When they were finally excayated the
popped out smiling, They were take
to the first aid station from which the,
soon departed-with the correspondent
cigarette supply.