New-York tribune., 1918-02-23
U.S.. Soldiers.
On NewL
Win Skiirnniish
Americans on the Aisne
Front Kill One German.
Catch Another
BY Tho Associated Pres

With THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
FRANCE, Feb. 22.-In 4 patrol fight
Americans from units under instruc-
tion in the famous Chemin-d -des- Danes
sector, on the Asne front, killed one
German and captured another One
American was slightly wounded
This is the first time it has been per
mtted to reveal the fact that new
{, American units have entered the line.
The troops have been there for some
time. suffering slight casualties. but
their presence was kept secret until il
was certain the enemy knew they were
there
TeutOn Caught in Shell Hole
Details Of the patrol fight are un-
available beyond the unofficial report
that the prisoner taken was captured
single handed by a young American
from one of the New England States
who, during the engagement, dropped
into she'll hole on top of German
hiding there and later brought him in.
The American forces entered the line
on one of the darkest nights through a
shell-pittcd region dotted with shell
wrecked towns. The French general
| commanding the sector. hero of the
Marine. greeted them as comrades in
arms and kissed the American flag.
Ihroughout their period of service in
the line these trops have displayed
great eagerncss to establish record
equal to or better than that of the
troops holding the sector northwest of
Toul.
The orders for them TO leave their
billets came suddenly a few weeks ago.
ne troops entrained and rode 10 the
rallhead nearest the position into which
they were going. They knew whittier
they were bound and welcomed the op-
portun,'y TO start the work of light ing
the Germans
Warns Against wild Beasts"
ne UNITS as they detrained were re-
celved by the French general command
ing the sector. WHO addressed the men.
saying that he held them in the sam.
regard as his own soldiers and that
lEey were brothers in arms, fighting
ior the same great cause He warned
them to be cautious in dealing with the
enemy over The distant hills. The
French soldiers. he said. were skilful
IN hunting these wild beasts, and
were glad of the opportunity to pass
along all they knew 20 their American
comrades. He recognized that they
were courageous and anxious to test
themselves agains. the enemy, but adj
vlsed that they should 60 slow at first.
he troops made a long march to the
line, singing at intervals to help the
a ~ ,,,l 1;,-I,t ~. g,
'ney were carrying. They passed
through mile after mile of she'll
SCARED. dcsolate ground and through
number Of great piles Of stones and
debris watch once We're villages. but
now without a single house left stand
ing. The scenes Of destruction on such
a large scale impressed the Americans
deeply. and many OF them expressed
The hope that they would soon be able
10 help punish the perpetrators.
The troops marched in and took up
their positions without a hitch TO The
music OF the roaring guns. both
friendly and hostile. their flashes fre-
quently stabbing the blackness of The
night. first here and then there, as far
as the eye could see.
On this occasion. as on previous oc-
casions when American troops reached
the front. they We're warmly welcome, Il
By their French comrades
An American general with these
troops had not been in the field two
hours when the enemy dropped num-
Der of siX-inch shells close by him. It
Was the generals first experience un-
der fire, but ne continued his work
coolly, remarking that he was no more
nervous than he thought he would be
The troops IN this sector are virtu-
ally all HUSKY specimens aud there are
many six-footers among them. They
come from cold climate and quickly
adapted thems mselves to the field condi-
tons at this season.
The reserve units are quar.ered in
/ The Aisne ouarries near by. which are
twenty feet under ground. and one oi
/ which is capable of sheltering 5000
men.