New Britain herald., 1918-02-05
RAID ON AMERICAN
 TRENCHES BLOCKED
Enemy, Ready for Dash, Receives
 Heavy Bath of Shells
HUN CASUALTIES PILE UP
Icrshing's Men Turn Loose With Guns 15 Minutes Before T'russians Were Scheduled to Adyancc-Yan- kocs Learn What Gas Is.

kecS Learn What Gas Is.
 With the American Army in France Feb. 4 (By the Associated Press)-- German plots to raid the American trenches were frustrated early today The American artillerymen put down heavy barrage in front of and on the German lines, which are believed to have been filled with men and otli- cerS awaiting the signal to attack.
 The sector occupied by the Ameri- can troops is northwest of Toul. It is inadvisable to mention the number of men in line, the length of the sector and other details.
 The location of the sector was kept secret until 1t became certain that the enemy had discovered it.
 It was discovered at a certain hour. that the Germans intended to carry out silent raid. Fifteen minutes be- fore the time set all the American guns concentrated their fire where, according to the information, the enemy was massed. Very heavy cas- ualties were inflicted on the Germans
 There has been Q general increase in the artillery activity for the last day or so along the American front. The Germans are still unable to occu- py the front line trenches which were wrecked by the American artillery fire. They have constructed another line of trenches at that point. Ameri- can patrols have worked their way over No Mans Land and inspected the damaged trenches as we'll aS they could
 Germans IEurI Gas Shells.
 The Germans are using gas shells freely and endeavored to onvelop one of our battery positions with gas but without success. They have dropped a number of shells in the roads behind the American line.
 Two men were reported wounded today by shells. The visibility remains poor.
 Fuller reports from the first line show great courage was exhibited by the troops during the heavy German bonn bardment of Saturday. X num- Der of men wounded slightly by shell splinters were treated in the lines with first aid packets and insisted on remaining at their posts until the fight was finished. One man who was car ricd to a field dressing station re- turned to the line after his wounds had been attended to, and remained on duty until the firing ceased, and the danger was over. All the men later went to a hospital for full treatment
 Many of the Americans have had their first experiences with gas in thc last few days, as the Germans have been sending over a considerable num- Der of gas shells. None came over this afternoon but an alarm was given. T another staff officer, who were motor ing to a village back of the lines camc upon several companies, all the men in masks The officers hurriedly put on their own masks and rode on to- ward the front line. At the next yil- lage the men were wearing masks. The officers kept theirs on until they saw through a shell hole in the side of a brick wall 20 infantrymcn with no masks on, rolling dice as if nothing had happened.
 Toul, capital of the department of Mcuthe- ct Moselle, is i 4 miles west Of Nancy and is a fortress of the first class
 The present battle line is about Is miles north of TOul where it extends westward to St. Mihiel to the German border. There have been raids by the French troops recently near Flicury and SchichepraN.
 When the American trench was raided last November it was said ir the German official statement that the Am ericans were stationed along the Marne- Rhine canal, northeast or Lunevillc. Foul is about 2S miles weSt-nort hWest of LuneVille.