Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-04-14
AERICANS Capture
.TH|RTY-s|X PRISONERS
cmy Forces Attack Our Troops
and French Allies in Forest
OF Aprcmont.
,CHlNE-GUN FIRE ACCURATE
|rmans Leave Dead StrcWn on All
Sides After First Big Daytime
Battle With L. S. Soldicrs-Ailied
Lines Hold Like Stone Wall.

~
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
lance. April l3.-"Al machine
emplacements have been shot
ay. but every gun is working like
b."
This vas the report made TO Amer
n headquarters in the field by the
fnmandcr OF an American machine
unit during the hottest hour OF
ed after German storm troops At
|'Eed our sector northwest Of Toul.
defiant wording of the rcpor:
pines the valorous spirit the Amer
ms displayed throughout this FIRST
go ecale daylight combat with the
3cny. 1t was the toughest and
;gest engagement fought on any
3icr!can sector to date.
Dur casualties were slight. but those
ffered b ythe Germans were heavy.
The Americans took thirtysiX pris-
|era. including six Chlans. The pr!s-
ers were questioned ut American
Iadquarters today. II developed
1t each carried a havcrsack packed
tn preparations for = prolonged
~ In the American trenches.
rho French official communiQuc de-
F!btng the battle reads:
In the forest o: Arrc,nont the
Remy launched on our positions in
p burnt woods a strong attack and
'ncd foothold In our advanced po-
ions. a sharp counterattack by
ench and American troops working
|sethcr Immediately drove them out"
|;tung 10 the pride by the crushing
Feat Inflicted upon them in this same
'tor by tho Americans on Wednesday,,
p Germans set out 70 get revenge.
lie remnants OF the very storm troops
|!ted BY us Wednesday were rc-en-
iced by infantry and cavalry. and
luck the American front line vicious
a. dawn yesterday. following a
|avy gas Smelling and general artil-
y bombardmort. Weather conditions
no perfect. following week Of
|Thc FIRST assault was against the
|ench troops. The adjoining A,ncri-
|ns delivered count.rattack Tho
rrnans. who had reached our first
|e. We're slowly but surely driven
|ciS with grcnadcs and cold steel.
vng" hand to- hand fighting cnsued.
MEXICAN AND FRENCH
LINES LIKE STON: WALL.
pho enemy found the American and
|eIch lines like a stone wall. our
chine gun and artillery fire gave
douchhoys wonderful support.
" American incautryrncn were rs
ger ne wildcats. They had the Ger
ns whore they wanted thcm-lr .he
en-. one American officer remarked
Here's where we get them out Of
Pr sewers and fight like men in the
On. Just see those youngsters 90
it,
The first assault on our lines was
livered AT 6 O'Clock. The second
sh came five hours later. Fighting
r,inucd till dark. The accuracy OF
@ American machine guns was one
tho brilliant features OF the battle.
Ike Germans left dead strewn cn all
les. They retaliated with ponder
IS shell fire. raking the roads behind
e liaes. The cannonad!nS was deaf
Ing. Shells burst on all sides In
rious contrast with the old men,
omen and children toillng IN the vine
rds on the hiiisides less than ten
lomctcrs (s!x and one-half milcsI
'ay
Miles away from this terrific din,
ossons were shaken off fruit trees
; the concussion OF the lombard :
ants. The pcaccfulrcss OF the sur
undinE country was III queer CON
ADDICTION with the couriers on motor
cles. plastcred with mud. dashing
elk and forth. and with the au,orlo-
les laden with TROOPS itching to
tch in.
To hold the infantry In check once
c fray had started was one Of the
rdest tasks of the American officers.
cidcntally. our men went at the en-
~ with songs and oaths accompanv-
s every bayonet thrust. The enemy
no match for our men In individual
Icls-that much can be stated with
Il boasting.
The German plans yesterday were
fcated ms they had been defeated
cdnesday. There was lively aerial
tivity during the fighting. \ heavy.
change Of artillery fire ragged all
,iday night y series Of raids had
en- undertaken by thc enemy ut and