The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-09-20
AMERICAN GUNS
HURLING SHELLS
into METZ The
GERMAN REPORT.
Assures Germans It Is Not
a Result of the Re-
cent Retreat
LONG RANGE GUN
rs BEING USED
Is Only "Concomitant Phe-
nomenon' of the Pres
ent Battle

AS O14y SOACO4IlIdI1b l. uC-
nomenon" of the Pres
ent Battle
Amsterdam. Sept. 20.--Metz ia un,
der fire Of American cannon. Al
official communication relative K
the bombardment is published in the
newspapers OF that city according
to a Berlin dispatch. It follows
"The enemy for several days has
been bombarding Metz. with q Ions
range gun. Such bombardment has
been always possible through the
war and has long been expected
Modern guns have a longer range
than, for example, from south OF
Ponta-Mousson to Metz. The pres
ent bombardment, therefore. is in nc
wise connected with the fact thai
the enemy after our evacuation OF
st. Mihiel salient drew nearer to the
town. It Is only a concomitant phe-
nomenon Of the present battles west
and southwest of Metz and will cease
when these battles come to a stand
still. Regulations regarding entry
and departure from the fortress
zone, therefore, are unaltered."
Heavy Rain In Lorraine.
With the American Army in Lor-
raine, Sept. 20, IL a. m.-(By- The
Associated Press. s.)-Continued rain
which transformed the front into a
bog making troop movements diff
cult and transport almost impossible,
slowed down the activities today
There was scarcely movement on
the ground, nor even a patrol opera
tion being recorded. - .
The aerial activity continued In
the unfavorable weather, although
in lessened degree. Some air patrols
secuted over the enemy lines in the
rain.
Hospital Is SheIled.
With the American Army on this
Americans were killed when q clear
ing hospital was hit by German
shell on Wednesday night. Tbs
enemy tars n a large number &C his
explosive projectiles into the region
of the hospital on two successive
nights and finally hit a large tent
where gassed patients were confined.
A large red cross against a field
Of white had been laid on the ground
before the hospital so that II could
be observed by German aviators. Of
ficers say that the Germans were de-
liberately firing on the hospital as
there are no woods near where troops
might be concealed. The majority Of
the Americans killed in the hospital
were priyates who had been gassed
recently west Of Wanderers. Several
members Of the medical corps were
among the injured. -.g .
The shell struck the hospital about
midnight and there was great con-
fusion owing to the darkness. Other
shells continued to fall in the near
vicinity of the hospital.
Officers speak in the highest terms
Of the heroic attempts OF the at
tendants to relieve the suffering Of
the wounded
Raids RepuIsed.
Enemy forces attempted to raid
the American lines on this front this
morning. After two bombardments
which lasted As minutes in which
high explosives and gas shells were
used, the German infantry attacked.
He was repulsed and did not reach
the American trenches at any point
One German was killed and three
wounded.
In a patrol encounter along the
southern Lorraine front two Ger
mans were killed and three were
wounded during a patrol encounter
during the night. Several prisoners
from the 37th German division were
captured last night by an American
patrol west Of Wanderers. This divi-
sion had been in the line in this sec
tor only a few days. It is one of the
German crack divisions and it was
marched into this area from the
quiet sector west Of Rheims, where 1t
had been resting. The prisoners said
the 87th would have been sent OPP
posite to the Americans sooner but
that 1t had been well shot to pieces
on other fronts, including that north
of the Marne during the German re-
treat, and had been compelled to
await some requirements which had
been long in coming.
An American officer visited an OBJ
post during the day yes
terday ana while he was there the
observer saw a movement of troops
on the cross roads west Of the Mo-
selle The Germans were moving
southward. The officer took charge
Of the situation by telephoning the
artillery, which responded promptly.
The gunners opened up on the road
ways and direct hit was scored on
the cross roads just as two enemy
squads had reached that point.
Through powerful glasses the off
Ger saw the shot take effect, killing
some Of the enemy and wounding
others. Great confusion followed and
after the artil1erymen had fired on
the cross roads and the region near
by for 10 minutes the troop move
ment toward the American lines
ceased.
The cross roads were not used dur
Ing the remainder OF the day yester-
day.
New Troops In Line.
with the American Army I'm Al
SAGE, Sept. 90 There are indications
that the enemy has placed new
troops in the line In Alsace opposite
the Americans Some portions Of