The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-02-14
US. GUNNERS
HELP FRENCH
IN effective
RAID ON HUNS
American Artillery Men, Now
in Action on the Cham
paigne Front, Give Effect
i've Support to Raiders.
PIERCE THE THIRD LINE
(By Associated Press)


Interesting developments have grown
out Of the big French raid in the
Champagne region yesterday. Prim.
arily. It has been revealed in this con-
nection that American artillerymen are
in action on the Champagne front.
The French official statement OF to-
day in reporting further on this raid,
noted the presence OF American bat
teries and announced they had given
every defective support to the raid
ers. 1t has not been previously known
to the public that American troops
were stationed at any point along
the line other than In the French
Lorraine sector they are holding-an
inderterminate section east of st. Mi
hiel The assumption is that the
American artillerymen are part OF a
number undergoing instruction by the
French before taking up the task OF
supporting their own infantry. The
point near which the raid was carried
out lies in the area in which the great
French offensive of 1915 took place.
1t is some two miles northeast of the
town of Les Mesnil, LeZ-Hurlus, and
slightly less than that distance south
east of Tahure-a place frequently
mentioned in the official communica-
tions.
Admit French Success
Tahure. indeed, is named in today S
Berlin official report which comedies
French success in the raid near that
place admitting that, footing was
secured by Petain's troops in salient
Of the German positions. Paris an
nounces the taking of more than $50
prisoners in the operations which was
carried out on front of about two
thirds of a mile and reports that the
positions taken have been organized.
The official French statement of last
night reported a large raid on front
of 1900 meters in the Champagne,
near Butte Du Mesnil, in which the
French penetrated as far as the Ger
man third line The American sector
is in Lorraine some distance to the
east of this point.
Uneasiness over the Russian situa-
tion in German and Austrian official
circles, is indicated in reports in the
German press. The central powers
are said to be uncertain concerning
the future attitude of foreign minister
Trotzky and the Bolsheviki govern
ment, and one Berlin newspaper says
that the announcement that the Rus
sian army had been ordered demobil-
ized was sham maneuvre."
German leaders are said to have
held conferences as to the best course
to pursue. One report is to the effect
that military operations against the
Bolsheviki might be resumed but both
Berlin and Vienna appear to be anxi.
Gus over the probable fate of the many
thousands of Austro-German prisoners
in Russian hands.
Circulation Of the message ordering
the demobilization of the Russian
army, the German papers say, was
halted three shours after orders were
sent out. Concerning the situation in
Petrograd there have been no press
reports since early last Tuesday. Dis
patches last Thursday reported rioting
in Petrograd in which 100 persons
were killed.
Probably 2,340.000 Germans, con-
stituting 1876 divisions, are in posi-
[continued on Page Eighth