The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-03-08
YANKEE PATROL
0UTWITS HUNS
Missing Soldiers Dash Across
"No Mans Land" as Enemy
Stands Abash.
Three U. s. ARMIES FACE FOE
American Colonel Captures German
Lieutenant While on Raid With
French-Pershing's Men Win
in Lorraine

With the American Army in France,
March S.-The American troops which
have taken up their position on the
Lorraine front were billeted in towns
back of the lines when they suddenly
received orders to move to the front.
They We're transported in mOtortrucks
over roads an inch deep in dust.
Streams of cannons, trucks and motor
cycles along the roads raised clouds of
dust, which stuck to the men and made
their clothes, faces and equipment
gray by the time they had reached the
towns close to the firing line, from
which they marched to their position
during the night. They found them
selves in a section of Lorraine where
the ground rose in slight grades. In
some cases the enemy lines were a
half-mile away Although this was the
first time they had been in the
trenches the units, from various parts
of the United States, quickly adapted
themselves to their new surroundings.
The American patrols have been oper-
ating nightly in conjunction with the
French and have worked between the
lines with the greatest freedom. The
artillery has been only internationally
active, but usually a few shells are
exchanged every hour.
With the American Army IN France,
March S.-An American patrol compris-
ing one officer and eight men which
had been missing since last night in the
sector northwest of Toul, suddenly
emerged from a she'll hole close to the
German lines during the day and made
a dash across No Mans Land without
a shot being fired at them.
1t was noon when the patrol carried
out its rush to the American line. The
mems comrades, looking on, expected
every second to see them wiped out,
and their safe return was an agreeable
surprise. They explained that they had
lost their way in the dark.
The enemy artillery has not resumed
its activity. The American guns ef-
fectively shelled the enemy first lines
and also town behind the German
lines, where buildings their troops were
using were destroyed.
There was much aerial activity
throughout the day, the American anti
air battlers driving off a number of
enemies
Three U. S. Armies Face Foe.
The American troops in new sector
are training with French troops as at
the Chemin Des Danes position. This
makes the third American force now
facing the enemy.
During several days Of the Ameri-
cans service here, the casualties have
been extraordinarily slight, as the Sec
tor is one of the quietest. The lines
are far apart and the position is held
by strong points rather than by con-
tinuous trenches.
Officer Captures German.
An American staff colonel, while with
French raiding party for the purpose
Of securing information a few days be-
fore his men took up their positions in
the new American sector on the LOr
raine front, met a Prussian lieutenant
In an enemy trench and captured him.
The colonel, with an American captain,
DIOuSHl lllt uSSldu DdCh W
the lines the Americans are now oc-
cupying.
U. S. Wins Clash In Lorraine.
Paris, March S.-An official state
ment issued by the French war office,
announcing the repulse of German raid
ing forces on trenches held by Ameri-
cans In a new sector of the Lorraine
says:
North of the Chemin Des Danes
and east of Courcy French troops con-
Quoted successful raids on the German
trenches and brought back about twen-
ty prisoners.
"In Lorraine German raid on
trenches held by American troops was
repulsed. Patrols of our allies Oper-
ating in this region took some prison
ers.
in the Vosges the enemy made sew
eral vain attempts to reach the French
lines.''