Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1918-03-16
American and French Soldiers
Dash Far Into the Enemy
Trenches.
PENETRATE SECOND POSITION
Successful Dual Charge by Pershing's
Men Follows Four-Hour lombard
ment by Uncle Sans Artillery
Make 6oo-Yard Gain.

With the American Army in France,
March 12.-TrOOps holding the Amer
lean sector north of Toul made sue
cessful raid against the Boches early
Monday morning. This was the first
exclusively American raid without
French participation.
The American raiders went over the
top after 45 minutes artillery prepara-
ton. They penetrated the German
trenches and returned successfully.
According to first reports there were
no prisoners, as the trenches and dug
outs had been demolished and the
Boches had Withdrawn to their rear
lines.
Guns Sweep Enemy Trenches.
The artillery bombardment started
at 3 80 n. IN. The heavy guns CEN
tered their fire on the German guns
and rear organizations, while the light.
er pieces swept the trenches, smash
ing dugouts and other defenses.
Under cover of barrage the Ger
man wire was blown up by American
engineers. The infantry then went
over the top.
The artillery preparation was en-
tlrely as successful as the lombard
ment week ago. The infantry made
the trip across No Mans Land and re-
turned practically free from enemy
she'll fire.
Make Raid in Lorraine.
Paris, March 12.-American troops
have made a bold raid into the Ger
man lines in Lorraine, the war office
announces.
Pierce Enemys Line.
With the American Army in France,
March 12.-American troops, co-operat-
ing with the French, have carried out
three raids opposite the American Sec
tor in Lorraine. Two of the raids were
executed simultaneously at night
The Americans swept past the Ger
man first line and penetrated to the
enemy's second line 600 yards back.
The two simultaneous raids, one
northwest and one northeast of -
(deleted) were made after intense ar
tillery preparation lasting for four
hours, in which the German positions
were leveled. At midnight two forces,
each one of (deleted), with
small French forces on their TANKS,
moved upon the German detectives be-
hind a creeping barrage, each on d
front of 600 yards. When the Ameri-
cans reached the enemy first lines the
barrage was lifted so as to box in the
German positions at both points.
Germans Flee Trenches.
The men dropped into the enemy's
trenches, expecting a hand-to hand
fight, but found the Germans had fed.
the advance, they went for
ward 600 yards to the second German
line. All the time American machine
guns were firing on each flank of the
two parties to prevent the enemy from
thanking operations. One
French thanking party found two
wounded Germans in a dugout and
took them prisoner. The Americans
found none
The Americans remained for 45 min
ntes in the enemy lines. They found
excellent concrete dugouts, which they
blew up, and also brought back large
quantities of material and valuable
papers. While they were in the en-
envy lines German artillery began a
vigorous cOunter-barrage. 1t was
quickly silenced by American heavy
and light artillery, which hurled large
quantities of gas shells on the bat
teries.
An American trench mortar bat
terry, the homes of most of the
men are - (deleted), participated
in the artillery preparation preceding
the raid, helping to level the enemy
positions. The artillery, both light and
heavy. was manned by soldiers mostly
from -- (deleted).
The raids were carried out skillfully.
and but for the fact that the Germans
fed. more prisoners would have been
taken. American gas shells are be-
lieved to have caused many casualties
among the enemy. No Americans are
for.
The American artillery in the last
Il hours has bOmbarded vigorously
certain towns in the rear areas, roads
and communicating trenches of the
Germans opposite the Toul sector with
excellent results. They shelled a NUM-
Der of buildings in one town in which
enemy troops were billeted.
They sprinkled with shells a road be-
Ing used for transport and scattered
the Germans in trenches which were
knocked in.