The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-03-02
AME!RICANSDIE
WHEN GERMANS
VAINLY ATTACK
Battle in Driving Wet Snow
Costs Lives of Many Sam
mics, Including Captain
HUN DEAD COVER GROUND
Usury in Hyena Lives Exacted
by Avenging Lads Of the U.
S. "A. for Comrades

by Avenging Lads Of the U.
S. A. for Comrades
With the American Army in
France, March l. American
troops repulsed a strong German
] attack this morning in the sa-
J lent north Of Toul. There were
many American casualties, one
Of the killed being a captain who
was graduated from West Point
in 1917.
/ The raid was a complete fail
ure, three German prisoners re-
naming in American hands. The
ground in front of the American
trenches was strewn with Ger
man dead.
Terrific Shell Fire Opens
A driving wet snow was falling this
morning when the Germans opened
fire on the American salient with
every weapon at their command. Sew
enty-sevens, heavy shells and gas
shells fell in perfect whirlwind on
the American trenches for half an
hour. At the same time other enemy
shells In great numbers were dropping
on the American battery positions.
Gas Turned Lose
The Germans, evidently thinking
that the Americans in this section,
having had one taste of gas few
days ago, would fear it now, let loose
great quantities of poisonous gas, but
the men put on their masks and only
q few were affected by it. So intense
was the fire that the woods back of
the salient were shot to pieces.
sammies Were Ready
At six o'clock the barrage fire lifted
on the trenches to the right of the
salient, and the Germans numbering
24O came sweeping forward under the
protection of their fire. They came
forward apparently intending to make
q big haul and jumped into what was
left of the trenches, but there, in
stead of the easy time anticipated,
found the Americans all ready for
battle Fierce hand to hand fighting
began.
One American captain rallied men
with rifles and machine guns and went
through the American wire entangle-
ments into No Mans Land and there
waited for the enemy, whom he ex-
pected to be driven out by his COM
rade in the trenches
Huns Turn in Panic.
He was right, for soon groups of the
enemy started back through the wire
entanglements The Americans poured
in a deadly fire, but unfortunately the
captain was killed during the fight. He
Is the first member Of the 1917 class
at West Point to be killed
While the Americans were in front
Of the wire entanglements and in shell
holes, still fighting desperately, the
American barage fire began sweeping
No Mans Land, catching many RUM
is Prussians who had enough of Am
erican methods. The barrage swept |
back and forth, making sure of doing
all possible damage to the foe.
4 Many Germans Dead
When the enemy had been driven
back out of the positions the bodies
Of ten German soldiers were found in
the American trenches. Two German
officers were entangled in the wire and
many bodies were in sight. Eight were
visible through the snowstorm at one
point. The ground Uttered with en-.
envy hand grenades, boxes of explos-
ives for destroying dugouts, and in.
cendiary bombs which they had no op-
pOrtunity to use.
Few Americans Taken.
They managed, however, to drop
lncendiary bombs in dugouts which
were destroyed by fire, but no Ameri-
cans were in them. If the Germans
captured any prisoners, which is
doubtful, there were not more than
two or three, possibly, from listen
Ing post. OF the missing, many prob
ably were buried Digging for them
now is proceeding and others may be
accounted for. a
Two German prisoners were wound
ed and the other taken was unhurt ex-
cept for q welt on one of his hands
where he was struck by a young Am
erican soldier when he showed fight
after capture.
samnies Show Speed.
4 From the prisoners the American
Dficers have secured much valuable
One said:
4 did not have q chance to do any
hing before an American jumped onto
ne and grabbed me by the throat"
The Germans had been preparing
lor the raid for three weeks and be-
onged to the 18th reserve division of
Hanover. The prisoners had Russian
,ofns In their possession, and came
nto the trenches opposite just before
he Americans took over this sector.
7 The Americans lost many killed and
Wounded, including officers The Am
sricans displayed the greatest per-
I0nal courage, bravery and energy
throughout the engagement and out
ought the surprised enemy from the
instant contact was established.
During the commandment, 1 town
,ehind the American line was heav-
II shelled and there we're some cas-
IA u l. .f = &, f 4