Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1918-03-06
GERMAN ATTACK WAS PLANNED
TO AIinutest Detail-Nfaps Takdn
from Prisoners Show This.

with tho American Army in
France, March "A plan Of attack,
including map Of the American po-
sitions. indicating every dugout,
which was removed from the body
| Of the Prussian captain who led the
| recent assault on the sector north
west Of Toul, shows how completely
the Germans prepare their raids--if,
in fact, this was but a simple raid,
not having as it's ultimate object the
retention Of portion Of the salient.
The map goes into such detail as
to show every machine gun emplacc-
ment, every trench and every depres-
sion in the ground within the Ameri-
can lines; at the bottom there is sim
ply line drawn, labelled "our front
line" Along this line are five slrad-
| ed portions, each marked nest"
by Picked Troops.
Four rehearsals were held for the
| attack and the troops who made 1t
were specially picked from new ar
! rivals cf frcsh troops Iii The sectors.
They were told that the Americans
were in front Of them.
After the artillery had carefully
levelled the American position the
Germans started out from their
nests" each of which contained 40
infantrymen, one lieutenant and
three pioneers to precede the infantry
and five to follow 1t. The two groups
upon the American extreme right
went around the flank and the groups
upon the extreme left carried out
similar movement there.
The two groups in the center had
planned to attack directly, but the
American defense changed all the
plans. When they were met by the
heavy machine gun fire from the
American lines they saw it would be
impossible to gain a footing there.
| changed their direction and followed
the other groups around the flank.
The duty Of the pioneers preceding
the infantry was to clear up any wire
that had not been broken by the ar
tillcry, and the pioneers who follow
ed carried large quantities OF explo-
sivcs for the purpose Of cleaning up
the duGOuts.
Not Sure of Victory.
Official reports Of the Interrogation
OF the prisoners taken by the Ameri-
cans show that all OF them did not
believe Germany would win the war.
One Of them told the intelligence Of
iicers he presumed that the Amer-
cans. like the Germans, did not want
to fight, but had to. The officers
quickly changed the Germans view
point by informing him that all of
the troops in the attacked positions
were volunteers.
One prisoner, whose home is in
German Lorraine, said he thought
the 'fathcrland' would lose the war.
but lie hoped not. He knew nothing
about the Americans except that they
were In tho war, the German news
papers not printing much on the sub
rect. he said, and being slow in reach
ing the front lines because Of mail
congestion.
This prisoner said he was convinc-
cd that the recent strikes in Ger
many were caused by a desire for
peace, adding that all Germany want
ed the war to end. He was certain
that an offensive was coming, but did
not believe it would be launched be-
fore April /.
None Of the prisoners had seen
any German tanks, they said. All Of
them added they were glad to have
Deen taken prisoner, especially by
the Americans. because they believed
they would be well treated.
The prisoners accounts showed
that the sector opposite the Ameri-
can position was commanded by Gen.
Stalzmann.
The correspondent talked with
uoZen or the American wounded on
their cots. Every one Of them was
anxious to tell of some deed of hero
ism or other performed by his fell
lows, but displayed great modesty re-
garding his own exploits. One youth,
whose home is near Savannah, Ga,
and who looked to be not more than
Is years old, told this story:
Terrific Fire.
II was in the front line when it
seemed like every she'll in the world
started coming our way. Where the
Germans got them is more than 7
know. | never believed that many
existed. One burst near where was.
"A piece hit fellow on the other
side Of me who came from Texas. The
corporal picked him mp in his arms
and started with him for a first aid
station in the midst Of perfect
shower of dirt and mud which was
being kicked UP. | do not know
whether he ever got there or not.
by that time got into a machine
gun cmplacement with another COR
poral, whose home is in Missouri,
leaving my rifle outside. Things got
so hot we decided to get to steel
shelter at the end Of a trench.
Shell Killed Corporal.
'The corporal went first, but few
feet away a shell exploded. almost on
him and killed him. | stepped out
and saw that my rifle had been blown
to pieces. This left me defenseless,
so started in another dirertion, hop
ing to find Il rifle or pistol, because
| knew that the Germans would die