The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1918-03-07
One of Is Killed and Others
Taken Prisoners by BoChes
In Rest Raid on Cham
payne Front.
HEROES ARE DECORATED
Americans Given Medals For
Heroism in Action--Men Are
Eager For Further En-
counter With Huns.

On the Chemin Des Danes probably
was The larger part OF a patroi OF 10
men which went out when the raid be-
gan and has % been heard of since.
The enemy obtained no prisoners from
the American trenches.
The German war office bulletin last
Friday said that near Chavingnon, on
the western sector of the Aisne sront.
German troops had forced their way
into the Franco-American trenches and
captured 10 Americans and a few
French prisoners. The French official
statement OF the same day in report
ing tho attack. which occurred Thurs
day night, said that two columns Of
II enemy q been thrown back with
heavy losses.
German prisoners were taken by he
French.
Volunteers Search Field.
Volunteers from American units
siong the Chemin Des Danes searched
No Mans Land in a ain of machine
bullets for IS missing men Of a patrol
party, but did not find any trace Of
thsW except one man, who had been
killed. /: Is certain the Germans OBJ
tanned prisoners from this patrol.
Details of the German attack, which
failed completely To reach the trenches.
are now available. American artillery
men laid down a barrage fire as soon
as the started theirs. It is
known that three companies OF O. pc
cially trained shock troops, which
had been practicing for this operation
for W weeks, took part in the attack.
Each company was preceded by a
picked party Of 90 pioneers.
Tho fighting was brisk for about ar
Eour, but the accurate machine gun and
rifle fire from the American front lines,
coupled with the perfect American bar
rage which prevented reinforcements
from coming up. forced the Germans
to withdraw after sustaining heavy cas-
ualtleS and without having set foot III
tho American trenches. soon after the
attack was over a young lieutenant
commanding a platoon, membe OF
which composed the patrolling party.
which had gone out into No Mans
Land, went out to find them but with
out result.
Troops Eager 20 Fight.
He returned to his trench and asked
for a voluntary detail, Every man in
the platoon volunteered. but the lieu
tenant picked out a small party and set
out again. They were forced TO return,
however, when the German fire became
increasingly heavy. The lieutenant and
q detail made a third search just before
dawn, but without success. All the
missing men came from New England.
The American general commanding
the Unit on this front sale the men
Were eager for action and were con
tinually asking permission to remain in
the front line longer than the allotted
period. 1t has been found necessary to
caution them frequently against expos
ing themselves. they are SO anxious to
get a crack at the enemy. However,
they are tempted to peer over the top
in the day ime and go over at night
In the 'Iope of starting something"
Va HNrnEA ANAaa I, .x.>
these troops is proud of the showing
they are making while completing their
period Of instruction. An American
captain said:
They called us tn soldiers in Ameri-
ca less than Il year ago, but | guess we
are deli vering the goods just the same"
Fight Like Divers"
H"tW"on 500 and 1900 gas shells are
thrown on the American positions on
the Chemin DeS DANES front each day,
but there have been ne serious gas
casualties. The men have trained
thoroughly in the use of gas masks
and the necessity of putting them on
before going INTO the trenches. They
do not find it inconvenient 10 work and
fight like divers as they say; A few
men ave been gaSSed slightly. While
adjusting their helmets. but this is
inevitable when gas shell are THROWN
q long distance behind The lines. \
brigadier general and q major who
were riding in an automobile on a tour
OF inspection "a few days ago were
gassed slightly when a shell burst
within 1916 yards of their car. they
suffered from headache aNl Slight
nausea.
An American brigadier general said
today nC had asked for an American
divisional citation for each member Of
the raiding party of 20 of his men
which assisted the French in the raid
on February %. in which two GERMAN
officers ard u men were Captured.
Two officers and two men OF The rVid-
ing party already have hccn decorated
by the French with the war cross,
This is the first request for honEOrs
which has been made for Americans
IN thi% sector.
U. S. HEROES ARE DECORATED.
Paris, Sunday, March 3.-Pren{ier
Clemenceau visited the American
troops today and reviewed the soldiers
who ~repulsed the German attack Fri.
day. The premier left Paris saturday
evening and returned this evening,
when the following serni"ofticial t}ote
was issued,
The president OF thc council! desiSes
personally 10 congratulate" the Am@ri-
can troops in the sector where they
have repealed brilliantly Il g<netnS
attack. The battalion winch TOOK ISart
In his operation WAS "SEirWtd by thc
premier in whose presence the general
commanding the army decorated with
the war cross certain officers II pril-
Yates whose bravery haC cc"n particu'-
larry remarkable.
1T was Il very hnG success. r"tlectin3
great honor 90 tho tCuiritr Of THE
American i%nfantr% and the accuracy az
the artillery fire, which ave THUS
shown they Nre capable Of attaining THE
maximum effect trom 'I~ French MIA
terial which they have adopted. After
visiting the field hospital. wIcre he aR-
mired the morale OF the wounded, THE
premier went 20 he front lines 10 eXl-
anime the scene Of this Operation dup
ing his conversations with AmericaSr
generals. officers and D~Tivates. the
premier noted in every one II feeling oS
absolute confidence. which IL possible.
has beer heightened further by the brilt
liant results of their first serious meet
Ing with the enemy. over whom 'irl
allies has thus clearly shown th-ir
superiority.