Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-02-18
Thrilling Experience
(Continued from PAGE one)


kind happened, however. Apparently the
Germans merely, turned on the current
by chance. hoping that il any Ameri-
cans were within the entanglements
they would be killed in the wire or
"hen trying to get out. The patrol re-
turned safely to the American line
when the electricity was cut Off
The Germans, apparently having dis
covered the meaning OF some Of the
American rocket signals, last night
caused the Americans for a consider
able distance along the front to pre-
pare for gas attack. At first the
Germans sent into the air a rocket Of
the color which is the American signal
for gas attacks. but the hoax was dis
covered soon after the troops had adj
justed their masks.
The Germans next sent up a rocket
calling for barrage by the Americans,
but the American officers on observa-
ton duty in an advanced post seeing
whence the rocket came, got a message
to the artillery in time to prevent it
from laying down the needless shell
fire. The command to fire was ready
to be given when the information
reached the gunners that the enemy
was responsible for the barrage signal.
Extremely quick work was necessary
to stop the order of fire, for the Am
erican artillery has reached high de-
gree OF speed in going into action.
The Germans are coming TO realize
this and they are not SO free with their
shells as in the early days of the Am
erican occupation of the line. In the
language of the front, every time that
Fritz sends over one shell now he
gets IAN armful'' in return and usual
ly quite a number hit something, which
might not have been hit had the Amer
leans been unmolested.
Making Germans Nervous
Recently. however. there have been
fewer German shells coming toward
the American positions. But the Amer
lean artillery has started tactics that
evidently are making the enemy more
and more nervous. and the Germans
are extremely cautious about showing
themselves. The 75's are pounding the
Germans, and even one German is not
too insignificant a target.
The enemy now retaliates at times by
taking pot shots at the wagons and
motor cars. but as a general rule his
artillery is more anxious to carry Out
the daily strafe on certain locations
that are thought vulnerable. The enemy
infantry however. has adopted the poi
icy of never letting its rifles and ma
chine guns sleep.
An officers striker last evening polk
ed his head over the top of a trench To
see what was doing and bullet came
( his way, just missing him. The reports
show that another man. who for some
reason had jumped on a parapet, was
ridded by machine gun bullets before
he could stand up from q crouching po-
sition. Officers have to keep constant
Iy after the men not to show them
selves and to be careful. One man
found in a listening port without his
shrapnel helmet, explained that the
helmet made his head ache and he
could stand anything but that.
Germans Tap Wires
Places where the Germans have been
tapping the American telephone lines
at the front have been discovered and
steps have been taken to prevent these
occurrences happening again. 1nsula-
ton has been found scraped off wires
at a certain number of places where
the enemy has been listening in.
This tapping Of wires at times has
caused considerable temporary incon-
venience fictitious names being used
over the telephone lines for places and
officers. Our wires frequently have
been connected in some way with those
Of the enemy and on one occasion an
American officer is said to have talked
to a German in a listening post when
he started to use the telephone. The
German made 4 few terse remarks and
then the connection was broken.