The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-03-23
GAS SHELLS FALL
ON US. TRENCHES
Pershing Men Bombarded by Ger
man "Stink" Bombs From
RiCheCourt Cemetery.
ENEMY BATTERIES BLOWN UP
Americans Enter German Front Lines
at Two Points, but Did Not See
a Single Enemy Soldier-Artil-
Iery Continues Active.

With the American Army in France,
March Plat noon the enemy opened
a lively fire on one of the American
positions with 81 millimeter guns from
the cemetery at Richecourt. The
American guns of the same caliber
came into action and after they had
fired so shells the Germans ran from
the position and took their guns with
them. The American guns then she'll
| ed the village of LaHayville, where
two heavy explosions, apparently mu-
milton stores, were caused.
The German artillery directed most
of It's attention to dropping a few gas
shells into one or two towns witliS
the American lines and Smelling a
crossroad known as Deaths Corner,
during the day and night.
A certain Irish regiment was bonn
barded heavily with big shells.
Reports from both the Luneville and
Toul sectors say that more German
gas projectile batteries have been dis
covered and blown TO bits by the
American gunners.
Americans Send Gas Shells.
American artillery on the Toul front
has heavily attacked the Germans with
gas shells during the past day or so, il
is now permitted to announce. -Four
I different attacks were launched and
/ from the manner In which the enemy
. was siIenced It Is evident obey hat
the desired effect,
ggia one aer III ahaa tla 81.
SHELLS We're flying over the enemy lines
at night German airplane with red
tail light appeared over the Amar
} can line and. dropped d red rocket, fol
what purpose it is not known. How.
ever, shrapnel from American antiair-
craft batteries burst so near the Ger
man alrman Immediately afterward
that ne was forced to fly for his own
\ lines In hurry.
Tuesday night the enemy observation
!, tower and positions on Montsec were
shelled heavily, and heavy fire was d.
IGClcu uSdlllSL lllC CllClllg llCAl lllOl IL
6 ing.
Baker and Party Under Fire.
While Secretary Baker and his
party were returning from the Ameri
can front line trenches a German Joe
!: millimeter shell burst along the road
side within 40 rods of the automobile
te, Of thn NOT n
jured nor was the car damaged.
Secretary Baker remained for al
hour and half in front line trench
, on a certain sector under a brisk en-
, envy shell fire. He also visited an ad
vance listening post and talked will
, the officers and men.
At night American patrols entered
:, the German front lines at two point
, but did not see a single enemy soldier
:, although they hunted some time. An
a other patrol remained in the enem
:, wire entanglements all night, hoping t
: ambush an expected enemy party, bu
q 1t did not appear. A third America,
!, patrol party was discovered by Gel
. mans, who hurled hand grenades an
; forced the Americans to Withdraw
Still another established contact wit
an enemy patrol and few shots wer
exchanged. The Americans cam
, through unscathed, but 1t is not know
4 what happened to the Germans.
Many airpanes were up until 1t b.
Q gan to rain at noon. One airplan
from the rear of the American lin
drove off two Boche machines after
thrilling battle in and out of the clouds
;, Another alrplane was engaged againS
q German, when second German joil
u ed In the fight. A second friendl
e airman came up to assist, but 1t wa
J. 70 late, for the airplane the American
y honed would be victorious fell to I'll
n ground within the enemy lines.
% On the sector east of Luneyille ii
lie artillery continues active and a fe
lie American patrols have reached II
'e enemy lines. One party encountered
- enemy patrol and forced the German
~ to withdraw after sharp skirmish.
| -Nu r