The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-05-17
FIRST
REPORT ON WAR
TELLS SUCCESS
U. S. Aviators Bring Down More
Hun Machines; Increased
Artillery Activity.
FRANCE EXPECTS Big ARMY
Paris Newspaper Says United States
Promised to Have 1,500,00 Men
in France by End
of 1918.

With the American Army In France.
May 1.-THE first American official
communique since the American troops
entered the fighting line on a perma-
nent basis has been issued. 1t reports
increased artillery activity northwest
of TOul and in Lorraine, as we'll as
the destruction Of three German ma
chimes by two American aviatOrs. The
statement reads:
"Six P. NJ, Headquarters American
ExpeditiOnary Forces-Northwest of
TOul and in Lorraine there was a
marked increase in artillery activity
on both sides.
"Our aviators brought down three
German machines. There Is nothing
else of Importance to report"
I'm Lorraine, May II. three snfpers'
scouts of the intelligence service went
out in camouflage sniping suits to find
German snipers and encountered 18 Of
the enemy at a strong point near
dugout They shot four, Of whom one
appeared to be an officer, secured val
liable papers and retired under heavy
fire. One failed to reach our lines and
the major commanding the sector sent
three officers and four men to find
him.
Patrol Driven Back.
'This patrol also penetrated the en-
emy's line and reached the strong
point attacked by the first patrol Here
the enemy was now REINFORCED and
our patrol was driven back by hot rifle
and grenade fire.
"On reaching our lines one man
of this patrol was also missing. Two
officers who went out to find him killed
an enemy scout and brought back the
body for identification purposes. The
man missing from the second patrol
has not been found, but the third in
telligence scout of the first party has
returned.
"On May II three officers Of our
aviation forces were cited In orders
by the commanding general Of
French army corps and decorated with
the Croix de Guerre: Maj. Ralph Royce
of Hancock, Mich, for making the first
American reconnaissance over the en-
emy's lines and for always setting a
fine example to his squadron First
Lieut.. Herbert r. Garside of New
York, pilot, and Second Lieut.. Paul D.
Meyers of Milwaukee, observer for an
infantry Haison mission on April IL.
Flying at 300 meters, they finished
their mission in spite Of intense fire
from enemy machine and anti-aircraft
guns.
Two Flyers Killed.
North of TOul on the afternoon Of
May IA Lieutenant Angel and Lieuten-
ant Emerson were killed by a fall
within our lines in an observation
plane. The accident took place within
a cloud and the particulars are not
known.
"North of Toul our aviators brought
down three German two-seated ma
chimes, one Of our aviators bringing
down two and another bringing down
one"
Prepare for 5000, 900 Troops.
London, May 17.-American prepara-
tiOns on the western front are amaz-
ing in their immensity and plans are
being made to care for 100000 Amer
lean troops, Harry e. V. Britain, secre-
tary Of the English branch Of the Pill
grim club, told the Royal Colonial In
stitute Wednesday night. If the Ger
mans do not give in, he added, the
number of American troops will be In
creased to any amount necessary.
U. S. Promised 1900, 900 Men.
Paris, May 1.-THE United States
has promised to have 100000 fight
ing men in France by the end Of 1918,
says L'Homme Libre, Premier Clemen-
ceau's newspaper.
These troops, 1t adds, must have
their own organization and services,
which will mean at least 100000
specialists, workers, men In the quar-
termaster's department and others.
The newspaper says that under no cir
cumstances will allied workers or SOL