The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-03-06
AMERICANS WIN SEIRMISH.
OUR TROOPS ROUT GERMANS IN
STRONG EFFORT.
Attack Afer Careful Preparation But
are Surprised and Rcpulscd by Re-
sistaMe Met-Young West Pointer
Killed.

March (By the Associated Press) =
American troops repulsed a strong
German attack this morning in the
salient north of Toul. There were
many American casualties, one of the
killed being captain. who was grad
uatcd from West Point In 1917.
The raid was a complete failure.
three German prisoners remaining in
American hands. The ground in front
Of tho American trench was strewn
with German dead.
"A driving wet snow was falling this
morning when the Germans opened
nre on the American salient with ev-
cry weapon at their command. Sew
enty-seoen heavy shells and gas shells
feil I'm n perfect whirlwind on the
American trenches for half an hour
AT the same time other enemy shells
In great numbers were dropping or
the American battery position.
The Germans evidently thinking
that the Americans I'm this section
having had one taste of gas q few
days ago. would fear IL now, let loose
great quantities OF poisonous gas,
but the men put on their masks and
only few were affected by it. So
intense was the fire that the woods
back of the salient were shot to
pieces.
AT o'clock the barrage fire lifted
on the trenches TO the right of the
salient and Germans numbering 24O
came sweeping forward under the
protection OF their fire. They came
Forward apparently intending to make
n big haul and jumped into what was
left Of the trenches. but there, in.
stead OF the easy time anticipated,
found the Americans all ready for bat
tie. Fierce hand to hand fighting be-
gan.
One American captain rallied men
: aBd, with rifles and machine guns,
went through the American wire en-
tanslements into No Mans Land and
there waited for the enemy. whom he
rades in the trenches. He was right.
for soon groups OF the enemy started
back through the wire entanglements
The Americans poured q deadly fire,
but unfortunately. the captain was
killed during the fight He is the
first member OF the 1917 class at West
Point 10 be killed.
While the Americans were in front
OF the wire and shell holes, still
lighting desperately the American
bnrrage fire began sweeping No Mans
Land. catching many running Prus-
SLAMS who had enough OF American
methods. The barrage swept back aud
forth. making sure of doing all pos
sibio damage to the foe.
When the enemy had been driven
back out OF the positions the bodies
Of ten German soldiers were found i'm
the American trenches. Two German
officers were entangled In the wire
and many bodies were M sight. Eight
were visible through the snow storm
at one point The ground was litter
ed with enemy hand grenades boxes
of explosives Cor destroying dugouts
and incendiary bombs which they had
no opportunity to use.
They managed. however, to drop
bombs into two dugouts but no
Americans were in them. III the Ger
mans captured any prisoners which is
doubtful. there were not more than
two or three possibly from "a listening
post. or the missing. many probably
were buried. Digging for them now
In proceeding and others may be ac-
counted for.
Two German prisoners were wound =
ed and the other taken was unhurt ex-
cept for welt on one of his hands
where he was struck by "a Young
American soldier when ne showed
tight after capture.
From the prisoners the American
officers have secured much valuable
information one said:
Il did not have n chance to do any
ming before an American jumped on
10 me and grabbed me by the throat ="
Iho Germans had been preparing FOR
the raid for three weeks and belong
ed to the Seventy eighth Reserve hi.
vision OF Hanover. The prisoners
have Russian coins I'm their possos.
sion ana came into the trenches or
posite just before the Americans tool,
over thls sector. The Germans los