Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-03-12
SO U. S. and go French.
Take Part in Movement

WITH The FRENCH ARMlES IL
THE FIELD, March 11.-Franco-Amer
lean forces in the Lorraine region exc
cuted the first American destructive
attack Saturday east of Reillon. Fifty
Ohio troops and sixty French sappeTs
after heavy artillery preparation.
went over the top and charged 500
yards through No Mans Land, captur>
ing all detectives.
While the American raiders furnished
protection, the French sappers blew "
wire entanglements, observation posts,
shelters and caves. The Germans had
retired before the attackers reached the
enemy trenches.
The Franco-Americans returned to
their own trenches after ninety min
utes. with casualties of only four
wounded.
Meanwhile, east of Neuvillers and be-
fore Badonvillers, two deatchments-
each containing one company of Amer
leans and two companies of French
penetrated the German lines and de-
stroyed three trenches. They took two
Uhlans prisoners.
The poilus say they were forced to
restrain the Americans from charging
beyond their detectives.
American artillery participated ac-
curately in both attacks, proving it's
mastery of the most difficult artillery
problems.
American and French soldiers op.
Grating together conducted sue
cessful raids on widely sepa-
rated sectors, demolishing German
trenches at three points to The width
of 100 meters and depth of 500 meters.
American artillery aid in the raids
completely demolishing one section OF
enemy trenches. No live Germans were
encountered there. Elsewhere Boohes
who had taken refuge in dugouts and
pill boxes were bombed and grenaded.
Seven German prisoners were brought
back
With our artillery roaring and enemy
shells bursting in our front lines, tho
companies assigned to the raid had
taken their positions at 4:45. All were
cool and anxious to go.
The zero hour" was sos.
After being called to their posts the
men chatted and peeped over the para
pets to see the effects of our fire.
Thirty-two German airplanes were en-
gagged in observation work over the }
American lines.
The first official statement from gen.
eral headquarters. printed in Stars and
Stripes, an army publication, recounts
the activities of American troops under
fire since March 1st. 1t concludes:
THE baptism of fire which already
has been given to q few Americans will
come to all. There is no doubt that
the test through which the first troops
came with such signal success will
be encountered and passed with tho
same success by their brothers in arms,
in divisions still to reach the front.
The following New England soldiers
have been granted the French Croix de
Guerre for bravery on the Chemin-des-
Danes front: Lieutenant H. K Dayi-
son, Chaplain c. Boucher, Sergeant G.
Dover. Corporal F. Hurley and Privates
Z. Larkin, II. Eldredgc, S. ". Miller
and q. NJ. Sykes.
The bombardment in preparation for
the raids began at o'clock Saturday
afternoon. American and French guns
were massed along this portion of the
front.
After the tremendous burst of firs
in the. first salvo the guns continued til
rain shells upon the Boche front, SCI
ond and third line, and all rear organi-
cations, including enemy batteries When
the infantry went over the top in ona
sector they walked across No Mans Land
without opposition. They penetrated
the German first and second lines and
found nothing but a mass of wire. leY<
eled trenches. smashed dugouts and de-
bris. AS their orders specified they
return within certain time they obey<
(Contnusd on Page 9, Col a.