Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-04-23
Details of First Big Clash
On American Front in Frame


ed Press. Twelve hundred German
storm troops. the largest number ever
concentrated against the American
troops for an offensive operation. were
hurled against the American positions
on a one-mile front west of Renneres
forest. northwest of Toul, today after
a terrific bombardment of gas and high
explosive shells.
The enemy succeeded in penetrating
the front line trenches and taking the
village of Seicheprey, but after furious
hand-to-hand fighting, which was still
going on at nightfall, the American
troops recaptured the village and most
of the ground lost in the early fighting.
No Americans were taken prisoner,
but three Germans were captured.
German airplanes. flying at a low
altitude attempted to disorganiZe the
American fighting MEN, but tive enemy
aviators were brought down and the
others driven of.
The German sirmen poured machine
gun IRE into the American troops, but
the anti-aircraft batteries came into
play and American airmen took the air,
bringing down two of the enemy planes
and dispensing the others. All the
American airmen returned safely.
The Germans suffered heavy casual
ties, and the American lines remained
virtually intact.
The attacking troops carried rations
and entrenching tools, indicating that
they intended to occupy the American
positions for a long period. A heavy
haze overhung the sector when the at
tack began, but later there was bril-
liant sunshine. The American artil-
lerymen did valiant work, the men On
many of the batteries wearing gas
masks.
The enemy's casualties are believed
to have been the heaviest sustained by
them thus far in any operations against
American troops. Numbers of German
dead are lying in No Mans Land in
front of the American trenches.
The correspondent viewed the battle
from a hill a short distance behind the
lines. Trains moved to the front with
great regularity and scores of huge
shells were seen bursting, throwing up
clouds of white smoke in the neighbor-
ing hills. The heavy rumbling was
heard all day.
The ambulances tore over the she'll
torn roads and approached to within
short distance of the front line. Num-
hers of men in the rear positions begged
their comma nders to be sent up to as
sist the infantrymen bearing the orunt
of the attack. The men of all services
were eager al OppOlAuhANS ~ h6Ae
the enemy in the open.
The resistance offered by the Amer
lean troops was a surprise to the enc
my. who expected to break through
with little difficulty.
Coutrasted with the activity of the
Americans behind the lines, scores or
old men, women and children, were
seen peacefully employed in the fields,
apparently unmindful of the furious
lighting which is going on less than
ave miles away. The troops in nearby
towns eagerly sought news, expressing
confidence in the Americans and hoping
Cor the chance TO take part.
All the Americans moving to the
T-ont were in the highest spirits and
waved their helmets to the cheering
villagers. -,.
German raid against the American
,,ositf6us north Of St. Mihiel in another
sector this morning was easily repuIs-
ed The American troops Withdrew
from part of the front line and allowed
the Germans to enter it. They then
drove them out, the enemy leaving Two
dead in the trenches and one German
lieutenant dead on the wire. Two
Germans were made prisoners, but died
later.
one OF the American patrols encoun-
tered an enemy patrol in another part
of this sector and dispersed the Ger
mans after a short fight. All the
Americans returned safely.
The commander of one OF the Amerl-
can units. which bore the brunt OF last
weeks fighting northwest of Toul adj
dressed the men today, praising them
+ for the gallantTy and courage shown
in that action and for their defeat OF
numerically superior enemy forces.
The village of Seicheprey, where the
3 German attack was made Saturday, is
3 northwest OF Toul, and about seven
miles east OF the forest Of Apremont.
where the Americans repulsed masses
Of German storm troops recently. The
Z fact that American troops have been
on the sector north of Toul has been
known. but the lighting at Seicheprey,
together with the report OF an engage
Tuent north of 81. Mihiel. shows that
UPWARDS OF twenty miles of the line
IN that sector is under American con-
troll.
Seicheprey lies among rolling hills
overlooking a winding valley which runs
of TO the northeast. The probable OBJ
5ec;iye of the German attack there was
q get possession OF a strategic road
which parallels the battle line for 10