The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1918-03-21

the leaders in England, France and
Italy nS to the wisdom Of giving Ju-
pan Il free hand in this connection.
American troops in the front line
trenches in France have had their real
baptism Of fire. They have taken part
in several engagements with the enc
my one of which approached the dig
nifty of a real battle. The Americans
have repulScd several raids made by
the Germans and inflicted heavy
losses upon the enemy. The most
pretcntious engagement was that
which resulted from Il strong German
attack upon the American lines in the
Toul sector A large force of German
"shOck" troops, trained especially for
this operation, attacked the American
line after heavy artillery fire had
| practically lcvcled the American
| trenches. The American troops, un-
dismayed by the terrific bombardment
| stood their ground and engaged in n
hand-to-hand struggle with the Ger
man raiders in the trenches. The Ger
mans were driven back into No Mans
Land, leaving three prisoners ana
many dead in the American trenches.
! The Americans pursued the fleeing
Germans and inflicted further losses
as the enemy retrcnted to their own
lines. The Americans suffered severe
casualties, the dead including three
officers and seventeen men. but the
American lines were maintained at all
| points and the raid was declared Il
complete failure. Many cases of in
dividual heroism OH the part OF the
| Americans were reported and several
officers and men were decorated by
the French premier for bravery.
Other raids upon the American
| lines in the Chcmin deS DANES sector
and in Lorraine were also rcpulScd
| with severe losses to the enemy. In
all these engagements the American
troops have shown that. despite their
| incxpcricncc in the new type Of war
| fare. they are now perfectly at home
| In the trenches and are able to hold
| their own against the enemy
| pa
The increasingly large part which
| Pershing'S troops are taking in the
| fighting on the west front is indicated
by the announcement that the Amer.
leans are now holding something over
| eight miles of trenches on the battle
front. This front is liable 10 eXten-
sion Mt any time to the regular trench
allotment for an army corps. d'hc
| present American sector is understood
to be divisional frontage, which
means that at least three divisions of
American troops are there to give the
necessary support for the front lines
The growing activity of the American
troops IS further shown by the daily
casually lists which are now coming
| from General PerShing.
Announcement has been made that
the third American Liberty loan viii
be offered soon. The campaign for
subscriptions will open on April g.
the first anniversary of the entry of
the United States into the war; and
will continue for three or four weeks
The amount of the loan, the interest
rate and other features have not been
made public but the fact that further
legislation will be sought from con
greSS in anticipation OF the loan indi-
Gates that the amount Of the issue
| VIII DH lllAH 'Nb,bDOWDD,OUU, the
remainder of authorized but unissucd
bonds The campaign work for the
new loan has already been started
throughout the country and every dis
trict will have been thoroughly organ
lied before the drive begins
Hl-
Several steps have been taken by
the United States government to fur
thcr coordinate and ccntlalizc the
work of war preparation. The two
outstanding developments along this
Inc were The appointment Of Bernard
M. Barnch Of New York as chairman
Of the war industries board with great
! ~ enlarged powers, and The aSS,lmp.
tion by Mai. Gen. Pcyton c. March
| or MS duties as acting chief Of staff.
Mr. Baruch. according to the presi-
dents own announcement. made in his
letter Of appointment, will have great,
"r powers even than It was proposed
| ny certain members Of congress to
confer upon n minister of munitions.
lie Will be, in fact, practical dictn-
tor over industrial problems relating
to the war and will have, among other
things. the last word in determining
priority of supplies for the govern
mcnt whenever there Is competitive or
other conflict Of interest among depart
ments. The power placed in the hands