New-York tribune., 1918-05-17
aOAicial Communique" An
rounces Increased Artillery
Activity in Two Sectors
Describes Daring
Feats of Soldiers
Army Officers Hope De-
tailed Accounts Of u. S.
Operations Will Continue

WASHINGTON, May 16. Publication
,n.sav of the first American official
.ommuniouc' prepared at expedition
.rv headquarters in France inaugurated
what is expected to be daily report
% tbe American people on what their
soldiers abroad are doing.
As to the military situation in the
.vo sectors held by American troops,
.se communiquc was exceedingly brief.
1ncreased artillery activity on both
ra;nc was noted. with the comment,
ra;ne were noted, with the comment,
aNothinc else of Importance to re-
.rnr. Most of the statement was de-
soted TO official accounts of the daring
.rd enterprise of American officers and
mon in scouting and raiding operations
and in the air.
Army officers here hope that while
Gsneral Pershing may as yet feel that
!, would be improper for him to issue
formal statements as to operations
where his forces are holding sectors in
french corps or army fronts, he will
he able to follow up to-day's practice
and give detailed accounts of events in
which only American troops are in
yolved
Designation in the communique of
the fight for which Major Ralph Royce
was decorated by the French army
corps commander. as the "first Ameri-
can fight over the enemy's lines" was
taken here as an announcement that
complete American air squadron is now
in operation at the front. Heretofore
American fiers mentioned for gall
lsntry nave been attached to French
squadrons.
The text of the communication fol-
lows:
"SIX P. NJ, WEDNESDAY. MAY Is,
HEADQUARTERS EXPED1TIONARY
FORCE.-North of Toul and in Lor-
raine there was marked increase of
artillery activity on both sides. To-
day two of our aviators brought down
three German machines. There is
nothing else of Importance to report.
an Lorraine May ~ three snipers,
scouts of intelligence service, went
out in camouflage sniping suits to
find German snipers, and encoun
tered eighteen of the enemy at strong
points near dugout. They shot four,
Of whom one appeared to be an Off
tired under heavy fire. One failed to
reach our lines, and the major COM
manding the sector sent three officers
and four men to find him.
This patrol also penetrated en-
eInys line and reached the strong
point attacked by first patrol. Here
the enemy was now reinforced, and
our patrol was driven back by hot
rife and grenade fire. On reaching
our lines one man of this patrol also
found missing. Two officers who
went out to find him killed an enemy
scout and brought back body for
Identification purposes. The man
missing from the second patrol has
not been found, but the third intelli-
gence scout Of first party has re-
turned.
"On May - three officers of our
aviation forces were cited in orders
by the commanding general of
with the Groin de Guerre:
"Major Ralph Royce, of Hancock,
Mich, for making first American
reconnaissance over enemy's lines
ard for always setting fine example
to his squadron; First Lieutenant
Herbert h. Garside, of New York
City, pilot. and Second Lieutenant
Paul d. Meyers, of Milwaukee, OBJ
server. for an infantry liaison mis-
sion on April H. Flying at 800
metres. they finished their mission in
spite of intense fire from enemy ma
chimes and anti-aircraft guns.
"Ncrtn of Toul on the afternoon
OF May Ii Lieutenant Angel and Lieu
tenant Emerson were killed by fall
within Cur lines in an observation
plane in which they were flying. The
accident took place within a cloud,
and the particulars are not known.
North of Toul our aviators to-day
brought down three German two
seated machines, one of our aviators
bringing down two and another
bringing down one"