The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1918-03-05
Fights as Well Wearing Gas
Mask as Without 1t and is
Perfectly at Home.
OFFICER RISKS HIS LIFE
Takes OF Mask to Shout Orders
to Men But 1t Happens That
No Gas Was in That Section
at Time.

France, March 4.-The three recent
raids, one in the Toul sector and two
along the Chemin de Danes. have
demonstrated that the American
soldier, Notwithstanding his previous
inexperience, now is perfectly at
home in gas mask and able to
fight as well with as without it. In
so quickly reaching this stage the
Americans have shown their usual
adaptability. Gas was used in all
three attacks in Just sufficient
quantities to make masks necessary
as the Germans, in their later at
tacks, did not desire to encounter
quantities of their own gas.
When the engagement at Toul be-
gan, virtually all the Americans
were masked. Some of the men.
however, are reported to have taken
chance, when the German infantry
| attacked, pulling off their masks for
| freer action. One officer risked his
| life to give commands to his men
during the roar of explosions. He
was unable through his mask to
make his men hear, so he pulled off
and yelled his orders. AS it hap
pened, there was no gas in this par
ticular section but he did not know
it. The officer was willing to sacri-
flee his own life to get his men to
place of safety, where they could
also strike effectively at the enemy
There were many other instances
of physical bravery. A lieutenant, a
sergeant and two privates were in
a dugout when some Germans look
ed in. One cried in good English:
Come out, Americans"
The four Americans blazed away
with their automatics, then rused
the entrance and stumbled over the
bodies of the men, whom they had
apparently killed by their quick re-
sistance. During the bombardment
which hardly could have been more
than terrific two men who were
concealed in shell hole were bur
led by dirt thrown by another ex-
ploding projectile. They shouted
for help and it came quickly. Their
comrades left the shelters, from
which they were ready TO leap into
action the moment the attacking H.
fantry appeared, and exhumed the
buried soldiers while stones, mud,
earth, pieces of trees and shell
splinters spattered about them.
Notwithstanding the ferceness OF
the fight at close quarters not more
than one bayonet was used. and this
one on German. The Americans.
using their automatic pistols, sent
bullets into the German attackers
with good aim in spite of the excite
ment. Rifle bullets accounted for
many more.
Although the army has been ours
ing the weather and the mud for
days, there is one man in the line
today who is glad II was muddy, for
ne owes his life to the slippery
duck boards" or the flooring in the
trenches. With pistol in hand he
rounded trench corner looking for
the Germans. A hurley Prussian
saw him first and fred hut at the
same moment the American slipped
and fell on his face. The PTussian
thought him dead and turned away.
He was quickly dropped in his
tracks by the prone American, who
fred accurately from the trench
bottom. There were men in the
fight from virtually all the States
from New York to Texas. With one
or two exceptions all the wounded
are expected to recover.
Some OF the American dead were
buried In a cemetery back of the
lines during the night while friendly
and hostile shells roared overhead.
thick wet snow which now is
falling is melting as soon as II
touches the mud
The bodies OF the Americans slain
n the fighting north of Chemin des
Danes have been buried near where
they fell. their French and Ameri-
can comrades participating in i'm
Dressive ceremonies.