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

L. s. and French soldiers
operating together Saturday
conducted successful raids on
widely separated sectors, de-
mOlishing German trenches
at three points to the width
of 100 meters and depth of
800 meters.
The American raiders went
over the top after AZ minutes
preparation this morning. They
penetrated the German trenches
and returned successfully. Ac-
cording to first reports, there
were no prisoners, as the trenches
and dugouts had been demolished
and the boches had withdrawn to
their rear lines.
The artillery bombardment
started at $3.50 a. m. The heavy
gnns centered their fire on the
German guns and rear organiza-
Itions while the lighter pieces swept
the trenches, Smashing dugouts
and other defenses.
Under cover of barrage, the
German wire was blown up by
American engineers. The infan-
try then went over the top.
The artillery preparation was
entirely as successful as the bonn
bardment a week ago. The in
fantry made the trip across No
Mans Land, and returned, prac-
b,cally free from enemy shell fire.
Seven Prisoners.
American artillery aided in Sat
urday's raid, completely demolish-
ing sections OF enemy trenches.
No live Germans were encountered
there. Elsewhere, boches, who
had taken refuge in dugouts and
pill boxes were bombed and gren-
AIDED. Seven German prisoners
were brought back.
The bombardment, in prepara-
tion for the raids, started at /
O'Clock Saturday afternoon. Amer
lean and French guns we're massed
along this portion of the front.
After the tremendous burst OF
fire in the first salvo, the guns
continued to rain shells upon the
boche first, second and third
lines OF trenches and all rear Or
eanizations, including enemy bat
teries.
How It Was Done.
All specialized on the fate Of the
boches after being subjected to
such a Smelling.
Then came give" The captain
stepped up in line with his men.
At sol shells we're still scream
ing overhead. All were tense.
5:02-The men took last look
at their rifles and stamped their
feet to get a firm footing on the
fire step.
5:O3-A corporal said to the
captain: Captain, II you get it,
I get your puttees. Don't II"
The captain laughed and said:
Sure! My puttees are dilapidat-
ed anyhow"
5:O4-The captain pulled a
whistle from his pocket. Every
mans right arm went toward the
parapet.
5:Oo-Ine zero nOur. Inc
captains whistle blew.
The men vaulted the parapet
like trained gymnasium team
vaulting the "horse" as one man.
The whole thing had been prac-
ticed in advance. No orders were
necessary.
Reach Second Line.
When the infantry went over in
one sector they walked across No
Mans Land without opposition.
They penetrated the German first
and second lines and found moth
ing but q mass of wire, leveled
trenches, smashed dugouts and
debris.
AS their orders specified that
they return within certain time.
they obeyed and went no further.
The men In another sector pene-
trated 150 meters beyond the Ger
man third line. Their total pene-
tration was 240 meters.
They encountered some dugouts
that had not been smashed by the
shell fire and ran. into nearly
dozen pill boxes which also were
intact. They shouted for the Ger
mans to come out. The latter re-
piled by firing at the Americans.
They were given short shrift.