The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1918-02-28
A|NER |CAN LAOS
ATTACK IN MUD
EFFECTIVELY SHELL ENEMY
TRENCHES AND PATROLS
FOLLOW ;0l]L-l, " CLOSE UPON BARRAGE
Raid Yields Captain and Lieutenant
Chased Huns Half Mile Through
Trenches-EneIsh Stop a
Night Attack
CBy FRED s. TERGusoN)

10y FIRED >. HlIHGUSON)
With the American Army in France
Feb. ,2e-German working patrols and
enemy front lines were effectively
shelled by the American artillery last
night. The cannonading was continu.
ed throughout the day, u
The front was mud locked. And all
day sleet and rain storm transformed
the trenches into knee deep mire.
The animals and the wagons were
plastered with mud
In Spite of Mud
Despite these conditions the United
States patrolmen went about their
business in, the usual way during the
night and slid on their stomachs in the
mud through No Mans Land.
The most welcoming incident was
the midnight coffee rationing.
German patrolmen are now using
dogs for sentries.
During the night while the Boches
We're repairing their barb wire en-
tanglements sentry dog gave warn
ing of an approaching American force.
Americans Enthusiastic
Look what we have Colonel" was
the cry of the Americans who partici-
pateG in the raid over the Lady High
Way Saturday, when they returned
with their prisoners. ~'
The "Yanks"e were so enthusiastic
with the accuracy of the artillery
barrage they administered that they
followed closely behind the curtain OF
fire
The Americans were even within
thirty yards of some of the exploding
shells from the French guns, upon
their march into the enemy's outposts
and entanglements.
az Get Captain
The German officers captured in
Guide one captain and lieutenant.
TWenty-thfee Germans troops took
refuge in q dugout during the French
barrage A direct exploding shell
scattered them. Then the French and
Americans jumped into the enemy's
trenches. Some of the Yankie lads
seized prisoners while others chased
the Hun troops through the communi
cation trenches for a half a mile.
Their enthusiasm was so great that
it carried some of them beyond their
designated objective.
...... English RepuIse Raid
London, Feb. 26-Repulsing of a
German attack last night, in an at
TEMPT to raid a British post was re.
ported by Field Marshal Haig in his
official war office statement from the
front today. The enemy raid was at.
tempted south of the Arras-Cambrai
canal.
French Forces Active.
With the French Armies in the
Field, Feb. 26.-Along the entire west
ern front from the junction with the
British forces to the Swiss border
line, the French armies are delivering
terrific raids dav and night.
These are likely to increase in
number, size and Importance until the
Germans either begin or call off their
recently announced offensive.
The present raids are somewhat
different from those of last winter,
being prepared on a larger scale with
immense artillery concentration and
preparation.
Many Advances Made.
They are only distinguishable from
the usual attacks in as much as the
infantry after capturing German posi-
lions, imprisonipg the occupants and
destroying the trench formations and
materials return to their own trenches
rather than to occupy the trenches
that they have just captured.
Two new elements which character
ize the present raids unquestionably
sound the key note of the 1918 opera
tions, viz, surprises and artillery in
tensity heretofore unequalled.
Francis Leaving Petrograd.
London, Feb. 26.--American .Ambas-
sat,or Francis has turned over the du-
ties of the Petrograd embassy to the
Norwegian minister, according to ex-
change telegraph received here to-
night.