Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1918-03-13
AMERICANS FIGHT ON
EIGHT MILE FRONT
U. S. Troops RepuIse Another
German Raid.
DRIVE BACK ENEMY PLANES
Pershing's Men Use Own Observation
Balloon for the First Time
Foes Fail to Shoot
1t Down.

Headquarters American Troops in
France, March 7.-American troops, in
still another place on the French front,
have been raided by Germans, who
were repulsed with losses.
This is the first time permission is
given to mention this engagement. The
American forces entered the battle line
in a certain place in Lorraine.
The French commander cOngratu-
lated the Americans on their behavior.
Americans Hold Eight-MiIe Line.
Washington, March American
troops are now holding something over
eight miles of trenches on the battle
front in France, it was learned here,
although in an airline their frontage is
only about four and a half miles. This
frontage is liable to extension at any
time to the regular trench allotment
for an army corps.
Enemy AirpIanes Attacked.
Headquarters American Troops in
France, March 7.-Groups of enemy
planes came over the American
trenches for Photographic work, but
were kept high in the air by the Amer
lean anti-aircraft guns. Planes from
the American lines also were out in
force. For the first time in the war
an American observation balloon, fully
manned and protected by Americans,
went up.
Drive off Hun Planes.
The balloon was hauled out from its
hidden nest and slight delay was ex-
perienced in getting it off the ground
because the telephone wires from the
basket, in which were an American
captain and lieutenant, were fOuled
This was quickly remedied and the
balloon was sent up, remaining in the
air several hours.
1t rose higher than either the French
or the German in an attempt to reach
an altitude specially favorable for OBJ
servation. While it was at the high
est point the watchers saw two air.
planes, with the black cross of the en-
envy on their wings, headed in their di-
rectiOn. The balloon was hauled down
so that it might be grounded quickly
if necessary. American gunners were
on duty in many places nearby, for the
balloon was protected heavily.
They stood by their guns, but the en-
envy planes, sailing across the sky with
shrapnell puffs streaming out behind
them like the tail of d comet, suddenly
changed their course and headed for
home. The appearance of a squadron
of planes from behind the American
lines bearing the insignia of the French
on their wings probably was the cause.
London, March 4-Several German
raids were attempted against the Brit
ish lines on the Franco-Belgian front
but none of them met with success.
The British took prisoners from the
Germans in these encounters and for
1their part successfully raided German
trenches near Armentieres.
Paris, March 5.-"East of the Meuse
we carried out q surprise attack at the
Calonne trenches and penetrated as far
as the fourth German line on a front
of 1000 meters and to a depth of 600
meters" the war Office announced.
I'VE captured more than $50 prison
ers.'
U. S. Men Take Prisoners.
Paris, March Ga German attack at
night on the trenches held by Ameri-
can forces in Lorraine was repulsed,
the French official statement issued
announced. American patrols operat-
ing in the same region, the statement
adds, took a number of German prison
ers.