Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-02-26
CANN0NROAR
IN AMERICAN
SECTOR WILD
Artillery Duel Grows More
Intense and Yankees Re-
turn Fire of Foe.

With the American Army in
France. Monday, Feb. 25. (By the
Associated Press, (Delayed).-
The artillery duel in the American
sector northwest Of TOul grows
more intense daily. The Germans
fired a hundred or more shells
during the last "a hours and late
this evening began to lombard
violently some Of our batteries
with gas and high explosive
shells.
The American artillery has re.
piled constantly, doing most eff
fechye work against the enemy
front line trenches. his battery
positions and wire entanglements.
Numerous enemy working parties
also were shelled. Beyond Obser.
walton by balloons there has been
no aerial activity owing to the
low clouds and rain.
American machine guns last nigh.
and this morning fired many thou
sand rounds in the rear of the Ger
man positions where marked move
ment of men and material progresses
The enemy tried unsuccessfully tc
hinder the American patrol work by
hurting new. and powerful flares int
the American wire entanglements.
Details of the FraRco-American
raid in the Chemin Des Danes Sat
urday show that rs picked American
soldiers participated after every men,
be. of their battalion had volunteered
The Americans moved forward Gag.
erly to the attack behind a barrags
fire, the first time this has been Gone
by our troops. Some OF the Ameri
cans made captures and others chased
Prussian troops through the trenches
as far as $50 metres, going beyont
the detectives sought.
The raid had been planned care
fully and rehearsals were held the
day before. The barrage fire begar
at $50 o'clock in the morning anl
continued until 6:35, guns Of all cal
ibres taking part.
Gain on Barrage.
The Americans among the 100 IL
the attacking party were surprised a
the precision with which the Fren Il
shells fell and went a little fastel
than they should have and were with
in 30 yards of the dropping she'll
when they reached the enemy LSas
Relief had just been completed in tht
German trenches and officers weri
making tn rounds. The Germans tool
shelter in a dugout rooted with rail
and sandbags. A French shell mad,
direct hit and the enemy scattered
about the trench. At the same mo
ment the Americans and Frenci
jumped in.
Criticise Yankees Speed.
There was some hand to hand fight
ing. but the entire enemy party a
this point was captured. The raider.
chased the enemy out OF other shelter'
and along communicating trenche'
without catching any. There wa
some criticism of the fact that tn
Americans were so enthusiastic tina
they went beyond the detectives.
The raiders and prisoners startet
back across No Mans land on scneo
ule time, but were caught in Ger
man counter barrage. One enem.
shell wounded five Germans and 81!
Frenchmen, but no Americans. IN
prisoners were from 16 to Az year
old. All apparently were under-nour
ished, but said that food was plentiful
in the trenches. The similarity o
their stories, however, aroused suspi
cions. Most of the prisoners iormeri.
worked in factories or on farms.
Raids Increase.
French Grand Headquarters, Mon
day. Feb. 25.--(By the Associates
pressD - CDelayed.) = Trench RAID
along the French front have Increases
in intensity during the past month Z
such an extent that they have becom
in some instances, battles In whicl
thousands OF men have been engages
and hundreds OF prisoners taken. In
artillery is throwing unheard OF guam