The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1918-03-21
AME R|CANs FIND
EMPTY TRENCHES
ASSAULT PENETRATEs THREE
HUNDRED YARDS.
GERMANY AFRAID TO STRIKE.
Ready For Action In France But
Fearful of Failure--seeretary
Of War Decides important
Points On Ground.
IRv 800 s. Ferguson.)

(By Fred s. Ferguson)
With the American Armies in
France. March 19-Franco-American
forces again raided German trenches
in the Badenvillers region today pen
etrating to a depth of three hundred
yards in the enemy's lines at two diff
ferent points.
They found the positions evacuated
and were forced to return without
prisoners
The raid was launched on an aban-
doned German trench. There was
the usual artillerying at other points
held by the Americans today.
Reply in Kind to Enemy.
In the Lady's Highway region six
thousand German shells, most of
which were gas, were dropped on the
Franco-American lines.
The French and the New England
gunners replied to the shelling OF the
Germans with fierce bombardment
about four times as heavy as they
received.
Enemy Ready To Strike.
BY Henry Woods, United Press
Staff Correspondent, With the French
Armies in the Field, March l9-TheI
German forces have massed armies
on the French front in such position
and such strength that she would be
able to launch surprise offensive
against the allied armies within
twenty-four hours ii she so desired.
Detailed information is now in the
possession of the French as to this
fact
Failure Would Spell Disaster.
The indications however are that
the German staff have not as yet de-
eided to launch an attack the failure
of which would irreyocably compro-
mise the recent success in the east
as well as the great fighting in the
recent wars.
$ French Make Big Advance.
Paris. March 19.--Frencn forces
penetrated the enemy lines in the
Rheims sector to depth of one thou
sand yards and brought back many
pilSoElCLGy int 4 ltnSH " al OhlSN
statement announced this evening.
Enemy troops raided French posi-
tions northeast OF Seelery following
a fierce bombardment but the attack
was later broken up by the French
fire.
Along the right bank of the Mouse
river there was violent artillerying
and fighting, especially in the region
of Hill 344 No infantry combat oc-
cured there.
Haig Reports Successful Raids
London, March 49, English troops
successfully raided enemy positions
in the neighborhood of Layaequeri
last night bringing back a number of
prisoners" Field Marshal Haig an
nounced in his Official war office state
ment this afternoon.
Portuguese troops conducted a
rails east of Neuve Chapelle capturing
prisoners and two machine guns"
Germans Announce Successes
Berlin, March 19-Twenty-thre3 al
lied aeroplanes and two captive ba-
looms were brought down yesterday,
the German war office statement an
nounced today. II was also stated that
reconoitering of the French yesterday
resulted in the taking of three huh
bred Belgium prisoners.
With Secretary Baker.
on Board Secretary Bakers Spt-
cial Train in France, March 10
Newton d. Baker, the American sec
Rotary of war. is liking important
DECISIONS in France upon such ques-
tions as in his judgment require i'm
mediate action He is gathering
knowledge for future use upon many
aspects Of the situation of the Ameri.
can army but problems pressing for
settlement he solves on the spot.
Thus today in the headquarters of
one Of the aviation centers, Secretary
Baker inquired If all the host of avi-
ators sent first from America were
first to complete their training in
France and if all of them had been
commissioned The chief of aviation
told the secretary that all of them
had not yet. because of reasons
which he explained, had chance to
take their final training.
Baker Gives Order.
The secretary went into the sub
jeet He directed at the conclusion
Of the inquiry, with General Per-
shing's approval, that ayiators so de-
layed should have their commissions
when they were ready for them. dat
ed a day ahead of those issued in
Afns5fica5to men who had entered the
service later because these men had
right to their priority.
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