Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-03-12
Hun PATROL
ROUTED BY
One Yankee
Lone Sentry Kills German
Officer and Drives Party's
Survivors Back To Their
Trenches, In DisorderIy
Retreat.
AMERICANS SPEED
SURPRISES FOES

SURPRISES FOES
With the American Army in France
March 7.-Delayed)-A lone Ameri
can sentry this morning attacked an
enemy patrol of about forty men, some
of whom had stealthily entered an ad
vanced American trench He drove
them off, killing the leader and wound
ing others
The first reports of the encounter
we're that another raid had taken place
and all along the line details were
being awaited eagerly. But investi-
cation showed that the one American
started what there was of an often
stve nature. The name of this man is
mentioned in all reports of the affair
and he has been congratulated heart
ily by his officers and comrades for
his courage and level headedness.
LEADER is SHOT DOWN
The sentry saw the patrol advanc.
Ing and looked on as the Germans
began to drop cautiously into the
trench He knew that an American
patrol was out along the wire not far
away and counted upon its help after
he opened fire. There were four men
In the American patrol. By the time
five Germans had entered the trenches
the sentry thought he should delay no
longer, especially as the under officer
who was leading the Germans had
approached within few yards of him.
The sentry opened fire rapidly with.
out challenging. The German leader
fell at the first crack of the rifle. The
others in the trench hurriedly sought
protection but they we're not quick
enough for the sentry's bullets caught
some of them
BULLETS SPEED RETREAT
AS the American began firing
German some distance outside the
wire shouted Come out; come out"
The Germans needed no second invita-
ton. In fact those who still were in
the wire already had started out. The
small American patrol saw the enemy
trailing back across No Mans Land
under fire from the sentry and from
Americans at a point further along
the line. The patrol Joined in the
fray and helped to speed the Germans
on their way by hurting large num-
Der of hand grenades, some of which
kAoOnoAy SoOA OAACSI. Jul lll1Co WSlC
found in the American lines
HUNS USE LIQUID FIRE
Patrols, both American and German,
constantly are seeking opportunity to
inspect the opposing lines and the
Germans on this occasion certainly did
not wish to be discovered. The party
which Jared so badly on this occasion
cut the American wire with the great
est caution, making no noise, but the
sentry who later drove them off was
watching their performance all the
time.
American troops in the sector north
west of Toul have been subjected for
the first time to an attack with liquid
fire. Enemy troops carrying flame
projectors we're just opening the at
tack when an American patrol which
happened to be nearby fired on them.
ATTACKERS FLEE
The Germans fled, pursued by the
Americans. They dropped four pro-
jectors, two of which were flaming.
The Americans went into action so
quickly that the enemy had no chance
to light the other two. No damage
was done by the flames. The projec.
tors lay in No Mans Land for three
days. Early this morning they were
brought in by an American patrol. All
had been punctured by shots from the
American trenches.
Late this evening the projectors
we're taken to headquarters. They
were strapped to the backs of the men |
who brought them from No Mans |
Land and moving pictures were taken.
They are of a type long familiar on
the western front.
GERMAN SHIPPERS BUSY
Enemy snipers have been busy in |
the last twenty-four hours with more |
or less success. Various parts of the !
American sector were bombarded i
without suffering great damage. Many |
valuable points in the German posi- |
tons were bombarded with success |
by the American artillery. A gap in !!
the wire through which the Germans
apparently thought patrols were
emerging was covered with bursts Of !
machine gun fire all night long and ,
even today.
An enemy observation balloon in
the rear of Montsec caught fire this
morning and was hauled down.
GERMAN BOMBS WASTED |
There was great activity in the air
all day following the bombing expe.
ditions of last night during which the
Germans threw down near towns
where Americans are, aerial torpedoes
and heavy shells They set the fuses
and dropped them from their planes
but the only result was to dig large
holes in the ground.
American anti-aircraft guns drove
off several enemy machines of the
many which crossed the line today.
One enemy plane was driven down
out of control behind the German line
after an aerial battle which thrilled
the men in the trenches.
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