Omaha daily bee., 1918-04-21
BATTLE IN AIR.

BATTLE IN AIR.
No Americans were taken prisoner
hut three Germans were captured.
German airmen. flying at low eleva
ton, poured machine gun FIRE into the
American trops, but the anti-aircraft
batteries came into play and american
airmen took the air, bringing down
two of the enemy planes and dispers.
ing the others. All the American air.
men returned safely.
Intended to Stay.
The attacking troops carried rations
and entrenching tools, indicating thai
they intended to occupy the American
positions for long period. A heavy
haze overhung the sector when the
attack began, but later there was
brilliant sunshine. The American ar.
tillerymen did valiant work, the men
on many OF the batteries wearing ga.
masks.
The enemy's casualties are believed
to have been the heaviest sustained
by them thus far in any operation
against American troops. Numbers
OF German dead are lying in No Mans
land in. front Of the American
trenches.
The correspondent viewed the bat
tie from hill a short distance behind
the lines. Trains moved to the front
with great regularity. Scores Of huge
shells were seen bursting, throwing
up clouds of white smoke in the
nelghboring hills. The heavy rum,
bling was heard all day.
All Eager for Fray.
The American ambulances tore
over the shell-torn roads and ap-
preached to within a short distance
OF the front line. Men in the rear
positions begged their commanders
to be sent up to assist the infantry-
men bear the brunt of the attack.
The men of all services were eager
for an opportunity to fight the enemy
in the open.
The resistance offered by the Amer.
lcan troops was a surprise to the
enemy, who expected to break through
with little difficulty.
Contrasted with the activity Of the
Americans behind the lines, scores
OF old men, women and children were
seen peacefully employed in the fields,
unmindful of the furious
fighting going on less than FIVE miles
away. The troops in nearby towns
eagerly sought news, expressing conf.
dence in the Americans and hoping
for the chance to take part.
All the Americans moving to the
front were in the highest spirits and
waved their caps to the cheering
villagers.
Raid Easily Repulsed.
A German raid against the Amer.
lean position north of St. Mihiel this
morning was easily repuised. The
troops withdrew from part
of the front line and allowed the
Germans to enter it. They then
1rove them out, the enemy leaving
TWO dead in the trenches and one
German lieutenant dead on the wire.
Two wounded Germans were made
prisoners but died later.
The commander of one Of the
American units which bore the brunt
u last weeks fighting northwest oi
loul, addressed the men TODAY prais.
ng them for their gallantry and
courage shown in that action and for
heir defeat of numerically superior
.nemy forces.
Americans Hold 20 Mile Front.
The village of Seicheprey, where
he German attack occurred Saturday,
s northwest of Toul and about seven
niles east of the forest Of Aprc.
mont, where the Americans repuised
masses OF German storm troops
ecently. The fact that American
roops have been on the sector north
IT Ioul has been known, but the
,ghting at Seicheprey, together with
he report of an engagement north
i St: Mihiel, shows that upwards Of
. miles of the line in that sector Il
nder American control.
Seicheprey lies among rolling hills
verlooking winding valley which
uns off to the northeast. The prob-
Bile objective of the German attack
here was to get possession OF 1
trategic road which parallels The
attic line for IS miles.
rish Members Bolt