The sun., 1918-09-20
STORMS CHECK
AMERICAN BOYS
Much Blind Patrol Fighting
Done in Fog and Rain,
Germans Losing.
ENEMY Is HALF HEARTED
Prisoners Pour In With Tales
Of Weakening Man Power
and Morale.
ENEMY Is HALF HEARTED

WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY ON THE
LORRAINE FRONT. Sept. 1s.-Clouds from
whic, rain poured most of the time COW
cred the sector north of st. Mihiel like n
blanket to-day. forcing the allied air
men to cease their punishment OF the
Germans. Patrols were active, carrying
out operations far beyond the line, and
occasionally the enemys artillery fired
viciously and blindly into the sector.
The French and the American guns
continued throughout the day their bonn
bardment Of fixed targets. but with less
vigor than usual They. too, were ham
pered by the lack Of observers reports:
They were less handicapped than the
Germans. however, because since the
victorious swing of the limo to the north
their superiority has been SO great that
II Is improbable that the Germans vet
have accurate data OF the new positions
Midnight Raid Fails.
At midnight raid was made By
the Germans against the American line
near Wanderers. northwest OF Pont-a-
Mousson, at the same place where the
first early morning attack was directed
eeo''''N '''' ouNposio oIl tlS
edge of Rappes Wood. No prisoners
were taken and 1t is doubtful If any in
formation was taken back by the
raiders
lntrenched in the second lines of the
fiindenburg system. the Germans along
the front southwest OF Metz appear to
have accepted the new situation. The
tactics they are employing are wholly
defensive ones.
The Germans are carrying out a half
hearted and seemingly perfunctory bonn
bardment of the American lines. Even
challenges by American and French pa
trols are refused by the enemy except
where conflict is inevitable.
shells Falling Haphaxard.
Shells from German II calibre guns
are reaching the American forward po-
sitions while those from)the l05s and the
1908 are falling in the back areas. From
time to time the shells reach points
throughout the sector, but only at rear
intervals does the enemy fire give the
impression that concerted effort is be-
ing made.
II would appear that the Germans are
convinced that further attacks at an
early date are improbable and they
themselves have neither the ability nor
the heart to counter attack. The stua-
ton rapidly has become like that on old
sectors where both sides are content to
harass each other day in and day out
oombardment that is heavy enough
at times to be called a barrage is laid
down early In the morning. 1t Is fol-
lowed by another some hours later. The
remainder of the day is devoted to oc-
casional shots and attempts against the
active allied airplanes.
The numerical weakening OF the Ger
mon forces, coupled with evidence OF
decrease in their morale. as has been
shown by the testimony OF prisoners
taken by the Americans, makes 1t rea-
sonabiy certain. according to military
observers. that the German nigh COM
mand does not purpose to order the
troops to do anything more than hold
their positions until tho bad weath&
sets in. assuming that then they will be
given a breathing spell and chance
for recuperation.
OF the thirteen divisions of wholly
rested German troops on the front three
are classified as first class, six as sec
ond class. two as third class and two
as fourth class. All these men were en-
gagged In the German drive in July and
later the allied counter offensive.
Three OF the Ave American alrplanes
lost yesterday were those belonging TO
bombing formation which dropped two
tons OF explosives on German troops
near MARSHA Tour. south OF Contains.
The group was attacked by ten enemy
machines One German airplane dropped.
Caught at a disadvantage, the Americans
separated and three Of the planes were
brought down in flames.
Fear lest the Americans advance and
overwhelm them. bitter complaint at bad
food and general dependency at the
prospects Of the war are the keynotes OF
letters written home by German soldiers
Continued ON Second Pa0s