The Washington times., 1918-03-30
SAMM|ES RAID
ENEMY TRENCHES,
CAPTURE four
By HENRY G, WALES.
I.N.S. STAFF eerreipondent.

Ne - oAL.RDAhI3VC1oE1As
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
FRANCE, March 20 70 p. .m.)-The
Germans tried to "gas" a certain vii
Iage behind the American front today.
and also to destroy 1t with incendiary
shells, but a high wind sprang up and
blew away the poisonous fumes and a
rainstorm put out the few fires that
had been started.
The Germans opened fire against
the village At 10 o'clock last night and
kept Il up until 3 o'clock this morning,
throwing about 900 shells. These in
cluded high explosives, gas, shrapnel,
and ineendiary shellG The last. In
bursting. gave. off fumes which irrt
tated the eyes and caused sneezing.
sannIes Capture -Four.
The five intrepid Americans who
penetrated the German trenches this
killing one and wounding one other,
were: -
Lieut. George Redwood, Of Balti-
more; Corp. Henry Morsehu. OF Cherry
Valley, Mass; Private Edward ARM
strong. Of Mariana. Pa; Private Car
son Shumate. OF Ada, W. Va. and
Private Bernard Bolt. Of South Beth
lehem, Pa.
The operation was CARRIED out at
9 o'clock. and the Germans were taken
wholly by surprise. The Americans
returned safely to their own lines
with their prisoners.
Ike Burnt Csrk Artists.
The Americans had biackened their
faces with burnt cork SO that they
could not be distinguished easily and
carried only hand grenades, auto
matte pistols, and clubs. The men
set out silently and the operation was
completed with the utmost caution.
As the Americans left, German re-
endorsements came up, firing wildly
into ''No Mans Land"
TITS lucky speak German, or one
of these prisoners would have been
killed" said Bolt. "One German ran
away and another started to follow
him, but yelled after him: Dutch. IL
you don't stop VIII shoot He stop
ped; otherwise ! sure would have
winged him" .--
Raided sannaies Last Week.
The prisoners,ars from the same di-
vision as those that raided American
positions last week. leaving score
Of dead in our trenches and in the
barbed wire. This proves that the
enemy has not drawn on this sector
for reserves for his offensive.
Before the raiders started out they
cut on their shoulder straps and
other insignia, and left behind their
papers and identity discs. SO that the
units to which they belonged would
not be revealed in case they were
killed or captured
Redwood had such q bad cold he
was barely able to whisper, and was
elated at the conduct OF his men.
The Americans questioned their
prisoners in German, obtaining much
valuable Information, although the
esptives were not OF q high order of
Ne ARTILLERY Preparation.
There was no artillery preparation
for the raid, as Il was intended as a
silent surprise operation.
When he got back, Armstrong cut
two notches on the handle Of his
automatic, indicating two victims.
schumate, who Is . sniper, has two
notches on the butt OF his rife, mean
ing two more German victims.
Ths prisoners were young and seem
ed well fed Outwardly they were
will clad, but underneath they wore
the thInnest and dirtiest underwear
their csptors had ever seen. They
wore strong leather boots.
! The fve Americans have already
been cited for the French war cross,
and probably will get the distinguish
cd service cross as well.