Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1918-03-27
U. S. GUNS SHELL
GERMAN LINES
Pershing Artillery Effectively
Bombards Trenches, Town
and Enemy Bi|Iets.
new MUSTARD GAS BOMBS
American Patrol Brings In Valuable
Papers From Bodies Of Huns Killed
by American Shell Firc-Heroic
Surgeon Decorated.

With the American Army in France,
March 26.-American artillery on the
Toul sector continued to shell effec-
lively the enemy's first-line and COM
municating trenches, the town of st.
Baussant and billets and dumps north
Of Boqueteau. Many Of the American
shells have fallen in the German
trenches and the first two lines IN at
least one place virtually have been
abandoned.
One American patrol freely inspect
ed this point in the enemy's line with
out molestation last night and this
morning and remained there several
hours. There have been no contests
between the infantry during the last
"a hours.
New Gas Attack on U. S. Position.
For the third consecutive day Ger
man artillery bombarded heavily with
gas shells certain town within the
American lines. Sundays lombard
ment was made in two periods, each
half hour in length. Many gas shells
and few high-explosive shells fell on
the American positions.
An airplane Of the enemy early this
morning cut OFF its engines at a great
height over the American lines north
west of Toul and planed down. When
close to the ground it dropped guam
tity of bombs. Some were Of a new
variety which explode in midair with
blush red flash and give off cloud
of mustard gas. Being heavier than
the air, the mustard gas quickly de-
scended toward some Of our battery
positions and road.
After the machine disappeared the
German gas shell bombardment began.
Another enemy airpIane lowered over
the town while the bombardment with
gas shells was In progress.
The weather was especially suitable
for aerial work and the Germans took
advantage Of it. On one part Of the
sector IA of the enemy's airplanes
crossed between noon and six o'clock
In the evening, while four friendly
ones were over the American lines in
the same period. One group Of seven
enemy machines, apparently on q
bombing expedition, was discovered at
midnight and drisen off by the rapid 4
fire OF American antaircraft guns
An American patrol has brought in
quantities of valuable papers from the
bodies of five Germans killed In a shell
hole by American artillery fire few
days ago. Among the papers taken
from an elderly soldier was letter
from his daughter saying: i
""We are being told now that peace
will surely come In July or August.
Everybody was highly elated when the
news Of the Russian peace was re-
ceived."
Heroic Surgeon u Decorated.
The distinguished service cross, one
of the four new American decorations
for bravery, has been awarded to
Lieut.. Fl. r. Davies, the United States
army medical reserve, who Is serving
with the British army. Lieutenant
Davies on January 8 entered dug
out under continuous shell fire and re-
manned there attending the occupants
after it had been blown in. He per-
formed an amputation operation and
saved the life Of a British soldier. He
received the first medal conferred on
any American serving with the British
forces.
The distinguished service cross has
been awarded nine American soldiers,
but three thus decorated are dead, and
the cross, with an appropriate letter,
will be forwarded to the next Of kin.
The decorations have been conferred
on Lieut.. A. w. Terrell, Medical Ser
geant Thomas Peterson (dead), Fri
Yates Herman Genipy and Lenni Fill
lengen (both dead), and Sergts. Var
ner Hall and James III. West and Cor
porals Edgard 81. Freeman, Amos
Teske and Homer Whited, all of the
same infantry regiment.
Some Of the men already had been
decorated with the French war cross.