Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-03-11
COMBINED FORCES
|. AWAITING GIANT
THRUST Of ENEMY
Frequent Patrol Attacks In
dicate German Lines Have
Been Reinforced.
GAS AND LIQUID FIRE
Is TRIED ON AMERICANS
Nowhere Has Teuton Been Abie
to Dent Front Held by
Sarlnies.
WILL BLOCK HUGE SMASH
Reports From Sweden Announce Hun
Infantry and Artillery Have
Invaded Finland.
GAS AND LIQUID FIRE
Is TRIED ON AMERICANS
WILL BLOCK HUGE SMASH

The continuation of tn. patrol at
tacks by the Germans all along tho
western front in France and Belgium
indicates that, their line having been
heavily re-enforcc the day is not Far
distant when the entente armies and
the American forces will be asked to
withstand thrusts OF more serious
nature. r.,,,,i
Gauged by tho firmncss OF the Brit
ish. French and Americans in meeting
the enemy assaults in tho last few
weeks. and the feeling OF Optimism
that prevails from headquarters stats
to the men in the trenches. warm
reception may he expected by. the
enemy when he launches his attack.
In the past fortnight from Belgium
to the Swiss frontier the Germans have
essayed minor attacks in nearly all
of which they have been beaten before
they reached the entente trenches
Where footing luckily was obtained;
the German tenure OF the position gem
orally was short-lived, for counter
attacks expelled them. 80
Everything in the way OF modern
warfare-even all the cunning devices
Of "frightfulness" which the German
mind has invented. not emitting liquid
fire-has been tried against the Ameri-
cans. but nowhere has the enemy. been
able TO dent the front held by General
PershtnsS men. On the contrary, the
Americans have answered all the Ger-
man ofeDsives with Il spirit of great
bravery. and. although they have SUI
fered some casualties, they have made
the enemy feel tho effects OF their
guns and rife fire. One thing ,ttat
has been apparent in all the ARRAYS
that have occurred In TINT .st.ip of
territory between tho trenches known
as no mans land" is that tho Germans
do not like coming into hand-to- hand
encounters with the Americans and
invariably give ground in the face OF
their vicious do-or-die attacks.
AMERICAN PATROL ATTACKS 80
ENEMY IN "NO MANS I.ANDy
Reports received from tho Am rlcan
army headquarters in France tell OF q
small American patrol meeting An
enemy patrol in mo mans land" ,near
Chemin -desDamcs. and firing on the
enemy. 4 sharp skirmish resulted, the
accurate firing OF the Americans caus-
ing one enemy casualty and undoubt-
cdly three others. The Americans rc-
turned to their lines without ..man
being scratched. 49,
The troops on the Lorraine front "a /
the same time suffered an xtrenlsiY
heavy concentrated bomba rdn,ent;
Northwest of Toul the enemy Tired
nearly hundred gas shells into. one
OF tho American battery positions In 81
short space Of time, but not q single
man SO far has been sent 10 lospital,
because of the rapidity with which gao
masks wcrc adjusted.
American artillery Blew up an enemy
ammunition dump. The heavy shells
dropped there resulted In fash fol-
lowed By flames and great clouds OF
smoke. The American artillery also
shellcd heavily the caemy's first and
second lines. ,
American snjperi have been cs-
peciaily active during the last twenty
four hours, one SharpSnooter killing n
German who was walking in a parapct
while other shar pshootcra we're sue
cessful in hitting other Germans who
showed themselves. Enen,y automatic
rifles were especially active but did
little damage.
LEAVE TWO IIEN ON
BARB-WlRE ENTANGLsMEETs
some OF the Americans in q listening
post in front of their limo northwos,
OF Toul discovered an enemy patrol fix
ing their oWn wire, end promptly open
Ell fire. The Germans retrcatcd, leay.
ing two OF their number hanging ON
the barbs. 60
Some hours after daylight a party
OF five Germans. two infantrymen ana
three Red Cross workers. emerged from.
the enemy lines AID started for their
comrades entanglcd in the wire. The
Americans saw the Red Cross brassards
and did not fire on the party, which
removed the bodies.
There has been Increased sniping ac-
tivity along the whole front during tl,s
last twenty-fou: hours. One enemy
post gave the Americans special trou-
bic during the night, placing we'll AIM
ed bullets on certain points Of the line.y
After daylight the post still continued
working from she'll holes with peri
scopes. American snipers tried to si-
lence the enemy from their line, hut
were unsuccessful r@s..t
ACTIVITY FRIGHTENING
ALONG ITALIAN FRONT
AS in France and Belgium tho actiy-
ity along the entire front in Northern
italy la heiEhte.:ing. and here also the
potro! engagements and the artiIleYy
due!s seemingly s!gnai!zed the approach
OF bitter hghting. Doubtless with the
spring thaw, the enemy will endesxor
to force his way from the mounta!N
regions out upon the plains OF Venetia,
and also to cross the Piavs River and
form junction with his northern
armies. Here. however. the Italians
having been heavily se-eafosced By thsts