The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1918-03-11

SAASA esA VIVA kSes
Grenades and incendiary bombs
were hurled into the German de-
lenses, blowing the dugouts and
pill boxes skyward.
No Dugouts Left.
Passing between the second
and third lines, more dugouts and
unexpected pill boxes were en-
eountered. The Yankees, their
leggings, pants and coats torn and
ripped by the barbed wire, pushed
forward. Before the door of
dugout, some tnfantrymen, armed
only with bayonetted rifles and
pistols, shouted:
Come QUIT"
The only answer was a revolver
shot thru a loophole. At that
moment, some grenadiers, running
up, drew back their arms, took
aim and let fly.
There was a sheet of flame and
the ground was shaken by the eY-
| plosion. A fraction of a second
later there was no dugout-no
| boches.
The pill boxes were handled the
same way, tho they were harder
to crack.
When the raiders reached the
German third line they found the
demolition even more complete
than in the previous two. There
wasn't sign of life. They clean
ed up the third line. making a
thoro search for military docu-
ments and other bits of informa-
ton.
Return Thru BarTage.
From the American trenches Il
white rocket appeared. 1t was
the signal to return. The gait in
going back is whatever the men
set for themselves.
The German barrage had now
started, kicking up mad bursts of
explosives between the Americans
and their trenches. 1t was every
body for himself--to walk or run
thru the barrage, hop over the
parapet and drop into his own
trench.
The captain looked at his watch.
1t was Just AZ minutes since the
whistle had sounded above the
din Of artillery explosions, send
ing the men over the top.
On another sector, no dugouts
or pill boxes were found intact.
The raiders penetrated beyond
the third line and captured two
wounded prisoners.
Laugh as They Go.
American soldiers operating
with French in the section where
five prisoners were taken In q
third sector, walked across No
Mans Land without opposition,
laughing and Joking at the lack OF
enemy fire.
They cleaned up the enemy
trenches in short order and were
anxious to go on but were with
held when the German barrage
started to fall. A sergeant shout
ed: Get out Of the way! Let a
man run who can rum"
The Americans dashed back to
their own trenches, their leg9ngs
and pants torn to tatters by the
barbed wire entanglements.
-Four Day Bombardment.
The four day bombardment of
American positions near the Swiss
border ended yesterday afternoon
when Yankee gunners neutralized
the work of the boche batteries.
Despite the unusual enemy &C.
tivity on this sector, the American
troops stood up under the cannon
aiding in splendid fashion. Thirty
two German airplanes were en-
gagged in observation work over
the American lines.
With their barrage roaring
ahead. the Yankees today started
their march boulevard at a steady j
even stride. There was no run
ming. The men marched as tho on
parade.
They soon began encountering
shell holes, and several slipped In
up to their hips. Their bunkies
with outstretched hands, aided In
pulling them out.
The objective of one company
was located In a shell shattered
wood where nothing but splin- !.
tered trunks OF trees which raised
their jagged limbs toward the shy
Continued on Page Fivs.)