The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-05-06
OUR MEN AGAIN
REPEL ENEMY
ON ToUL FRONT
Artillery Scatters Force
ReOccupying Trench in
No Mans Land.
DISCOVERED BY PATROL
Quick and Deadly Fire Nips
German Attack Before
Fairly Started.
DISCOVERED BY PATROL
BY the Associated Pyess.

WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
FRANCE, May 1.-THE Germans at
tempted again to-day to occupy one Of
the former American trenches in the
Bois Brule. west Of Apremont. in the
Toul sector. which was the scene Of the
fighting on April 10 and ~. Soon after
midnight the American patrols dis
covered that the Germans had crept in
to the position with a large number Of
machine guns and tools, apparently in
tending to consolidate the trenches with
the German system.
The American artillery got into action
quickly. sweeping a high explosive bar
rage back and forth across the newly oc-
cupied ground The guns rained steel
on the Germans until nearly daylight,
and when the patrols went out to in
restigate they found not a single enemy.
Some material. however. had been left
behind.
There appeared reason for believing at
one time, after the Germans were dis
covered. that another attack on the
Americans was about to be launched,
probably to cover the consolidation ef-
fort. II so. quick action by the artillery
smothered it.
Other Attempts Expected.
The Germans seem determined to
carry out their designs against this posi-
ton. and It is not unlikely that more
sharp fighting will be seen here. for II
is valuable to the enemy. although not
very valuable TO the Americans because
OF the nature of the terrain.
During the last three days the
American artillery In the Luneville sec
tor has completely chased the Germans
from their front positions and has wiped
certain sections OF the targets in the
enemy rear area OF the map. This is
the same artillery that not long ago
gave a similar performance in another
Lorraine sector.
On the present occasion, so far as all
investigation shows, the Germans have
entirely abandoned the territory at least
as far back as point beyond their
second line. The only signs that they
are there at all are few machine gun
posts hidden In out of the way places
in the back areas which cut loose when
the opportunity offers,
Just now the 0erpsa 7sat- Aad- second
lines are In about the same condition
as No Mans Land. In which latter area
the Americans are working more freely
than ever before.
The sections affected by the work o!
these American ar,illerymen Nare the
lines south. southwest and southeast o.
thirteen miles almost directly east OF
Lunevile and about six miles from the
German border at its nearest point 10
the northeasto The American raiders
have found that the shells had worked
terrific havoc at many places.
What is probably new German
liquefied gas was projected yesterday
against the Flea: dy front, where Amcri-
lean troops are .ightins.
No Infantry Attacks.
The gas in it's liquid form is contained
in glass bottles. On bursting they give
Off some substance from which heavy
white fumes, ira nsparent In texture, con
tinue to arise for five minutes. No de
tonation was heard as the bottles were
, hurled through the air. and apparently
they were thrown by spring The ga'
caused neusea. sneezing and coughing
but did no, harm any OF the Americans
There has been lively artillery fire, bu
the Americans here have not been at
tackled by the Infantry.
Last night an enemy sergeant-maio'
and eight men attempted to raid one o
our forward posts consisting or three
men. The Germans captured one OF on
men. but he escaped before he cou!dF b.
taken into the enemy's lines.
In attempting 10 recover their prisone
the Germans strayed into the America,
lines. They were attacked and the pa
troll leader was wounded and captured
He belonged to a reserve Saxon reg
ment
One OF the Ameyican patrols encoun
tered a superior enemy force OF twenty
TWO men. Fighting as they went. the,
made their way back to the America
lines without losses.