The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-03-29
SIX AMERICANS
IN PERILOUS TRIP
TO ENEMY TRENCH
GO OVER TOP IN DAYLIGHT
TO EXPLORE HUNS
LINE OF DITCHES.
(By The Associated Press.)


With the American Army in
France, Thursday, March 2S.-Two
officers and four men went "oyer the
top today in broad daylight, feat
seldom accomplished. Although the
sun was shining and the sky was
clear, the Americans decided not to
defer any longer their determination
to learn definitely whether Germans
were present i'll great numbrs in an
enemy firing trench.
When dawn came there were faint
clouds showing back OF the enemy'S
lines and the Americans DELAYED for
time, hoping for rain and Jog, but
wlcf the clouds disappeared the two
ottic RS and the four men decided to
make the daylight venture, although
they would be under the eyes OF a
watch from the enemy, and were in
place where even pistol bullets
might find their mark.
llOW IHSy lIdVelcQ.
Machine guns were posted, and
the Americans, with grenades swing
ing at their waists and with rifles in
hand, clambered up from the fire
step and out over the parapet. They
Slid head first into the nearest shell
hole and the journey was on. Nov
ing from shell hole to shell hole,
taking advantage OF the slightest
rise in the terrain, the patrol pro-
ceeded In the trenches behind
them, their comrades stood with
fingers on rifle triggers ready to fire
the instant any Germans might
show themselves.
From the American lines the pa
troll members we're seen to force
their way through the enemy wire
and, one by one, disappear into the
German front trench.
During the next four hours the
men in the trenches waited anxious
ly hearing nothing from the patrol,
who during that time were inspect
ing 600 yards OF the German
trenches.
Explore All Dugouts.
Prepared for instant battle, the
six Americans made their way from
one trench section to another, going
into each dugout with the muzzles
OF their rifles preceding them, and
travelled 800 yards. Returning to
the point from which they had start
ed on this inspection, they searched
the trenches 800 yards in the other
direction.
While four hours may seem a long
time for this work, it must be kept
in mind that every bend and every
dugout may contain an overwhelm.
ing enemy group and there was nc
assurance that the Germans had not
discovered what the Americans were
doing and that they had not con.
cealed men in places, prepared tc
meet the invaders.
Enemy Bullets Rain.
1t was noon when first the heat
of an American was observed above
an enemy parapet. The watchers il
the American lines breathed easier
but at this moment the German!
discovered the patrol and rifle bul
lets began to smack against the
trench sides and bottom.
Discovered, the six American!
lost no time in moving out. Un
Scathed, they returned to our lines
bringing all the information the,
! had sought.
At the other end of our lines dur
ing the night American patrols
sought to so through the enem,
wire. They penetrated the first bel
, successfully, but when they reache,
/ the second a sergeant, mho is fror
, Texas, put his hand on wire an
, received an electric shock and wa
= burned.
/ This attracted the attention of a
! enemy sentry, who fired fare fore
: ing the Americans to drop to tn
, ground, and they crawled hurried
, back to their own lines as the far
died away.