The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1918-03-08
AMERICANS REPuLSE
FIERCE HUN ATTACK
GROUND BEFORE TRENCHES OF
sAMMiEs sTREWN WITH
GERMAN DEAD.
U. S. CASUALTIES ARE HEAVY
One American Captain Places His Men
In No Mans Land and When
Comrades Drive Huns Out
samnnies Get Action.

With the American Army in France
March 2.-American troops repulsed 4
strong German attack in salient
north of Toul. There were many
American casualties, one of the killed
being a captain who was graduated
from West Point in 1917.
The raid was complete failure,
three German prisoners remaining in
American hands. The ground in front
of the American trenches was strewn
with German dead.
driving wet snow was falling in
the morning when the Germans opened
fire on the American salient with ev
cry available weapon at their COM
mand. Seventy sevenS, heavy shells
and gas shells fell in perfect whirl-
wind on the American trenches for
half an hour. At the same time other
enemy shells in great numbers We're
dropping on the American battery posi-
lions
The Germans evidently thinking
that the Americans in this sector
having had one taste of gas a few
days ago, would fear it now. let loose
great quantities of poisonous gas, but
the men put on their masks and only
a few We're affected by it, So intense
was the fire that the woods back of
the salient were shot to pieces.
At 6 O'Clock the barrage fire lifted
on the trenches to the right of the
salient, and Germans numbering 240
came sweeping forward under the |
protection of their fire. They came |
forward apparently intending to make |
big haul and jumped into what was |
left of the trenches, but there, instead |
of the easy time anticipated found
the Americans all ready for battle.
Fierce hand-to-hand fighting began.
One American captain rallied men
with rifles and machine guns and went
through the American wire entangle-
ments into No Mans Land, and there
waited for the enemy, whom he ex-
pected to be driven out by his COM
rades in the trenches.
He was right, for soon groups of The
enemy started back through the wire
entanglements. The Americans pour
ed in deadly fire, but unfortunately
the captain was killed during the fight
|
1917 class at West Point to be killed.
Barrase Sweeps Enemy.
While the Americans were in front
of the wire entanglements, and in
she'll holes. still fighting desperately,
The American bararge fire Hogan to
sweep No Mans Land, catching many
running Prussians who had enough of
American methods. The barrage swept ,
Jack and forth, making sure of do
ng all possible damage to the foe.
When the enemy had been driven
Jack out of the positions, the bodies
# 10 German soldiers We're found in
he American trenches. Two German n
Ulcers were entangled in the wire =
nd many bodies were in sight. Eight O
yere visible through the snowstorm !,
one point. The ground was Uttered IL
18th enemy hand grenades boxes of a
xplosives for destroying dugouts, and ir
lcendiary bombs, which they had no
opportunity to use. -
They managed, however, to drop in Ie
bombs in two dugouts which ~
ere destroyed by fire. but no Ameri-
ms were in them. If the Germans II
iptured any prisoners, which is doubt q,
IL, they were not more than two or
ree, possibly from listening post. j..
{ the missing, many probably were u
lried Digging for them is proceed
q and others may be accounted for.
Two German prisoners were wound
| and the other taken was unhurt, s,
rcept for welt on one of his hands
here he was struck by young Amer
an soldier when he showed fight af-
r capture.
From the prisoners the American
ficers have secured much valuable RI
formatie One said: liz
81 did not have chance to do any n,
ing before an American jumped onto Jis
e and grabbed me by the throat" &,
lie Germans had been preparing for n,
e raid for three weeks and belonged no
the 18th reserve division of Han mr.
er. The prisoners had had Russian M
ms in their possession and came
% the trenches opposite just before we
2 Americans took over this sector. On
The Americans lost many killed -.
d wounded including lofficers. The 80
nericans displayed the greatest per- ~,
nal courage. bravery and energy ~,
the engagement and out ~,
lght the surprised enemy from the ~
'tant contact was established -
During the bombardment, town ~,
1ind the American line was heavily =
slled and there were some casual, y,
8.