The Washington herald., 1918-03-19
Raid Apparently Designed
to Obtain Information
by Taking Prisoners.
SUSPECT SPY AT WORK
WITHIN LINES AT TOUL
Flash Signal Is Seen by
Trooper and Cut Wires
Cause Vain Search.

With the American Army in France,
March B.-After terrific artillery prep
alton this morning, large numbers Of
enemy crossed No Mans Land on the
extreme right OF the American sectof
northwest OF Toul. Apparently the
purpose OF the raid was soon accom-
plished, and only a comparatively
small number entered our lines. PeB-
mission has not been given TO mention
the number OF Casualties
For Gathering Information.
This raid, like most of the others
carried out all the way from the sea
TO Switzerland. was designed 10
gather information by means Of tax
ing prisoners.
One Of the American patrols last
] night encountered an enemy patrol in
No Mans Land in the Toul sector and
opened fire. The Germans fed, car
rying with them several bodies sup
posed 10 be OF men killed or wounded
They were 50 busy getting away that
there was only a feeble return to the
American fire and none OF the Ameri-
| can patrol were injured.
American intelligence ofbcess report
evidence leading 10 the conclusion
that possibly a SPY may be at work
within the American lines northwest
/ of Toul
Early this morning an American
sentry saw flashes Of a signal light
{ from a window facing in the direction
/ Of the enemy lines. He fred through
z tho Nr=fudnEu M FV.Wz a..
but failed TO find any one.
Wires Were Cat.
I -Four hours earlier some important
I telephone wires within the American
lines were found cut
An American patrol last night en-
, tered the enemy trenches at one end
| OF the sector and penetrated them
for some distance without dificuIty.
Much valuable. information was gath
cred
As they. were about ready 10 re-
turn they established contact with
the enemy. who opened FIRE with a
machine gun. The Americans jump
ed to = safe position and hurried
Erenades at the enemy Eunners. 81
lencing the gun
Returning 10 the American side OF
NO Mans Land" the raiders brought
back with them a German rife
breech, protected by a metallic cover
over the muzzle and a snap clip cover.
! both Of which operate quickly and ef-
hcientIy.
German MeehaaIsR Good.
ofhcers declared it was the best
thing OF the kind they had ever seen
for protecting rifles. The mechanism
was turned over to the intelligence
department with a recommended ton
that the attachment he furnished the
American troops
Another patrol on the other end OF
the sector reported that the enemy
first line was held stroRglr- While
the raiders were inspecting the Ger
man positions, the enemy fired upon
them several times with rifles ana
machine guns. which are at that point
Our artillery bomba r1ed effectively
biIlets, troops and new enemy works
at Lahayville. ST Baussant. the viii
lages Of MOntseC, RiChecourt. in the
Quart de Reserve. along the PanneS-
Monsard road. and a considerable
body of troops northwest Of Bux-
ieres
Gas Battery Smashed.
They also battered to pieces an
other battery Of gas projectors which
had been set up In a double line OF
| trenches
The enemy has shelled various
parts Of our positions rather hesy-
lily. many gas shells being mixed
with high explosive ones. Some Amer
ican soldiers who happened to be
near or who walked through the
shelled areas afterward said there
| were indications the enemy was try
ing TO isolate one OF our positions
/ with shell fire.