The sun., 1918-07-03
PERSHING TELLS OF
RAID IN PICARDY
Describes How U. S. Troops
Took 80 Prisoners Near
Chateau Jenlis.

day along the American fronts was re-
ported by Gen. Pershing to-day in a
comminiaue for yesterday, sent before
the successful operations last night west
OF Chateau Thierry, described in press
dispatches. The communiQue follows:
Section A-The day has passed
quietly at points occupied by our
troops
Yesterday one Of our aviators shot
down a hostile machine In the Toul
region.
Section BIN Picardy between
noon June 81 and noon June 2S. the
enemy showed little aggressiveness
His artillery fire was much lighter
even than that Of the day before. II was
directed largely against the region OF
Grivesnes. The activity OF his air
planes showed the same decrease as
regards reconnaissance work, coupled
with a marked increase In bombing
operations.
During the night bombs were scat
tered in small numbers over a con-
siderable part OF our sector. The en-
envy continued to strengthen his po-
sition.
Hostile patrols attempted more than
once to reach our lines, but either
retired without establishing contact or
were driven of by rife fire.
Our own artillery operated very ef-
fectively on the German front lines
and also in his rear areas, where one
Of his ammunition dumps exploded at
Q o'clock in the evening. One of his
balloons was brought down in fans
by an allied airplane.
Americans Take 80 Prisoners.
In the Picardy sector the day of
June IS to June 90 was notable In the
success OF our raiding as reported In
the cable OF June 90. Our party pene-
trated the German lines in the region
Of Chateau Jenlls at 3 o'clock in the
morning. taking the enemy completely
by surprise. Within the space of
twenty minutes they had captured
thirty-three prisoners. including an Of
flcer, number nearly equal to our
party.
In the course OF the operation we
destroyed several dugouts and machine
guns. Our casualties were remarkably
small.
AS on the preceding day. the Ger
man artillery was fairly quiet Regis
tration FIRE was delivered at several
points, and our positions around VIII
lers Tournelle and Cantigny were bonn
barded during the early afternoon with
shells OF medium and heavy calibre.
In connection with our attack coun-
ter preparation fire, changing into
barrage, was laid down by the hostile
batteries and lasted until 3:45 o'clock.
The barrage extended from the Fon-
talne wood as far north as Grivesnes.
There was little trench mortar or ma
chine gun fire during the day, The
German airplanes did comparatively
little reconna issance work. but during
the night dropped number OF small
bombs on our positions. and in the
course of the afternoon made several
attempts to destroy our balloons.
In the case of one balloon they were
successful, but at the cost OF one Of
their machines, which was shot down
in flames by a French plane. Our anti
aircraft batteries forced other German
airplanes to retire without accomplish
ing their mission. A number of wagons
were observed during the day in the
German rear areas. but the circulation
there was not notable in any respect.
Germans Repulsed mt COlmar.
Particulars OF the raids attempted
by German troops on our forces in the
Colmar sector on June % are now
available. They were preceded by ma
chine gun barrage lasting for half an
hour. One party of the enemy entered
our line, attacking one OF our posts
at the same time from the north and
from the south with rifle FIRE and hand
grenades. II was repulsed and driven
of without attaining any results
Another party. estimated to have
been twenty-five strong, attacked at
another polnt was reDelled and took