The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-03-18
Sentry Detects Flashes in Win
dow on the TOul Front.
Phone Wires on U. S. Sector
Had Been MysteriOusly Cut.
lombard At SIX POINTS
merican Artillery Continues
Active in Many Places.
Hold MeckIenburg and Lune-
vile Trenches Recently Taken.


With the American Army in France,
zfarch 17.-Arnerican intelligence of
ficers report evidence leading to the
conclusion that possibly spy may
he at work within the American lines
northwest of TouL Early this MORN
ing an American sentry saw flashes of
& signal light from a window facing
IN the direction of the enemy lines.
He fired thru the window and dashed
into the house but failed to find any
enc.
S Four hours earlier important tele-
phone wires within the American
lines were found to have been cut. An
american patrol last night entered the
enemy trenches at one end of the sec
tor and penetrated them for some
distance without difficulty. Much val
liable information was gathered. AS
they were about ready to return. they
established contact with the enemy,
syho opened fire with machine gun.
THE American jumped to SAFE posi-
lion and hurled grenades at the enemy
Eunners. silencing the gun.
Find a Rifle Patent.
8 Returning to the American side of
40 Mans Land the raiders brought
back with them a German rifle
breech. protected by a metallic cover
,
both of which operate quickly and
efficiently. Officers declared it was the
best thing of the kind they had ever
seen for protecting rifles. The mech
aniSm was turned over to the intelli-
Rence department with a recommend
alton that the attachment be fur
lsished the American troops.
Another patrol on the other end of
the sector reported that the enemy
first line was held strongly. While
nfe4i no
man positions the enemy fired upon
Them several times with rifles and
machine guns, which are unusual at
that point
8 Our artillery bombarded effectively,
billets, troops and new enemy works
al Lahayville, st. BausSant, the viii
1age of Montsec Richecourt, in the
quart de Reserve along the Pannes-
5Ionsard road and a considerable body
of troops northwest of Buxieres. They
Terry of gas projectors which had been
set up in a double line of trenches.
= Try to Isolate U. S. Sector.
The enemy has shelled various parts
of our positions rather heavily, many
gas shells being mixed with high ex-
Dlosive ones. Some American soldiers
xho happened to be near or who
exalked thru the shelled areas after
ward said there were indications that
the enemy was trying to isolate one of
f1uT pOSlIlOHS WITH shell lire lie WIS.,
&bility was exceptionally good today
and the weather was like summer. A
great number of wagon trains and
small groups of Germans were seen
walking behind the enemy lines.
- Several times during the day the air
sEaS crowded with airplanes and on
one occasion several enemy machines
we're overhead at the same time. Air
planes from the rear of our lines
carrying American observers man
.euvered to get into a fight with the
Enemy machines but they were I'M
Successful. American anti-aircraft
guns drove off a number of enemy
machines and kept the others high in
the air. American observers succeed
ed in accomplishing much work which
The recent ground haze had prevented;
sthey obtained badly wanted photo
graphs and observed certain things
back of the German lines.
y Capture Mecklenburg Trench.
8 American troops in the Luneville
sector have been subjected to fairly
heavy bombardments during the past
"a hours, but have been giving the
enemy as much received. Patrols
at two points established contact with
the enemy last night and early this
4noraing. After brief firing, the Ger
mans retired.
q American soldiers are still holding
the Mecklenburg trench, taken two
days ago, and which it is now permit
Ted to name. The anti-aircraft guns
east of Luneville were extremely busy
f1dav in driving off enemy airOIaneS