Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-04-19
AMERICAN TROOPS,
IN AN ADVANCE, TAKE
OVER NO MANS LAND
Lieutenant and Party Pene-
trate to Third Enemy Line,
Americans Help French Re-
capture Trenches Taken

WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
FRANCE, Wednesday, April 17.-(By
the Associated Press.)-American troops
operating on the Lorraine sector have
taken over control of No Mans Land.
Patrolling parties are making almost
nightly visits up to the German wire
entanglements without encountering any
resistance.
A lieutenant and a party of twelve
have made a five-hour exploring trip,
penetrating to the German third line
and making maps of machine gun and
snipers' posts and strong points without
being seen by the enemy.
An artillery lieutenant in All observa-
coming up to the enemy. He gave his
battery its position and the kitchen was
destroyed with three shots.
Lieutenant George Patton, of New
York City, of the American army medi-
cal corps, has been awarded the French
war cross for courage in treating
wounded men while without a gas mask
during a heavy bombardment Of gas
shells The lieutenant found it was i'm
possible to treat the wounded while
wearing his mask. He took it off and
continued to dress wounds until over
come by gas fumes.
Twice in twenty-four hours an Amer
lean company has assisted French
troops in a neighboring sector to regain
trenches temporarily taken by the Ger
mans. The company was led by cap
tain who took his roops over the top
in the face of the most violent machine 4
gym and artillery fire. Each time he
succeeded in driving out the enemy and
infiicting heavy damage.
A most pathetic story from the
American lines is that Of a young cor
poral who was wounded fatally after
fighting for four hours. A piece of
shrapnel struck him on the head. He
had a grenade in each hand Giving
them to his companion, he said:
Il guess I'm done. Please write to
my mother and tell her how it hap
pened. But kere-take these grenades
and for Gods sake don't waste them"
The corporal fell in faint and died
in a hospital the next day without re-
gaining consciousness.
a space of only fifteen yards between
the opposing trenches. A day before an
attack the Germans threw a note into
the American trench. 1t read: What
are you? Canadians or Australians"
Come over and find out" was tie
reply thrown back by an American SOL
dier.
The infantrymen who related the in
cident, added: Il guess they know what
f1arr 10, fIya1rv
to forget it for sometime"
One lieutenant in a listening post
with small party of men was cut off
from the remainder of the platoon in
Fridays attack. He tried to send up
rockets to signal an American barrage,
but the rockets failed to work. A pri
vate then volunteered to run back with
the message He passed through three
lines of harrage fire without being
harmed. and delivered the message. The
American gunners laid down a barrage
Immediately and saved the lieutenant
and his party from the hands of a SUI
perior force of the enemy which was
headed in their direction.
Commanders of units who participated
in the several days of fighting last
week in company with the French in the
Apremont wood sector are finding it
difficult to pick out men who especially
distinguished themselves in the opera
tions. One commander said that every
man acted like a hero and il was hard
to choose the most deserving cases. One
of the most popular men with the SOL
diers on this sector is the Rev. Des
Wales, a Roman Catholic priest OF New
Bedford. Mass. who is living with the
men in an unofficial capacity, he hav
ing come to France as a representative
of the Knights of Columbus.
When the attacks began Father Des
Wales, Drawing the dangers of shell and
machine gun fire went TO the casualty
Tearing station near the front to ad
minister to the wounded. He assisted
IN dressing the injuries of soldiers and
gave each man a word of cheer. He
handed out cigarettes to the men who
smoked.
Hes as game as they make them,
and every inch soldier" said a dough-
hoy. while other soldiers spoke Of the
inspiration furnished by the priest.
Another popular man is a young baker
Of Springfield. Mass, who was pressed
into service as a stretcher bearer He
was the smallest man in the outfit and
after several rriTs became so exhausted
ne was unable to hold the stretcher.
He refused to give up and had his com
Uanions tie ths stretcher to his wrists
with ropes so as to enable him to hold
the stretCher on the journey from the
front line to the dressing station.