Republican farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1810-1920, 1918-03-08
Volunteers Search No
Mans Land for Miss
ing Americans.
OFFICERS RECEIVE
A TASTE OF GAS''
Poison Makes General
Slightly Ill-Honors
For u. S. Men.

With the American Army in
France, Sunday, March 3-(By
the Associated Press -Volun-
teers from American units
along the Chemin des Danes
searched No Mans Land in a
rain of machine gun bullets for
IL missing men of a patrol
party, but did not find any
trace of them except one man
who had been killed. It is GER
tain that German obtained pris-
oners from this patrol. All the
missing men came from New
England.
Details of the German attack which
failed completely to reach the trenches
now are available. American artil-
lerymen laid down a barrage fire as
soon as the Germans started theirs. 1t
is known that three companies of
especially trained "shock troops"
which had been practicing for this OPP
Grafton for two weeks, took part in
the attack. Each company was pre-
coded by picked party of 20 pion-
GERS
The fighting was brisk for ABOUT an
hour, but the accurate machine g<a
and rifle fire from the American front
limos
can barrage which prevented rein
forcements from coming up, forced
the Germans to withdraw after suf-
fering heavy losses and without hav-
ing set foot in the American trenches.
Soon after the attack was over a
young lieutenant commanded a pla-
toon, members of which composed the
patrolling party which had gone into
No Mans Land, went out to find them
but without result. He returned to
the trench and asked for a voluntary
detail Every man in the platoon
volunteered. but the lieutenant picked
out small party and set out again.
They were forced to return, however,
when the German fire became increas-
ingly heavy. The lieutenant and a de-
tail made a third search just before
dawn, but without success.
The American general commanding
the unit on this front said the men
were eager for action and continually
were asking permission to remain in
the front line longer than the allotted
period. 1t has been necessary to eau
ton them frequently against exposing
themselves, they are so anxious to
get a crack at the enemy. However,
they are tempted to peer over the top
in the day time and go over at night
in the hope of starting something"
The French general who trained
these troops is proud of the showing
they are making while completing
their period of instruction. An Amer
lean captain said: "They called US
tin soldiers in America less than a
year ago, but 1 guess we are deliver
ing the goods just the same
Between 500 and 1900 gas shells are
thrown on the American positions on
the Chemin des Danes front each
day, but there have been no serious
gas casualties there. The men have
been trained thoroughly in the use of
gas masks and the necessity of put
Ting them on DeTOTe SOI1lS 4IlIO ILe
trenches. They do not find it incon-
venient to work and fight like div
ers,'' as they say. A few men have
been gassed slightly while adjusting
their helmets, but this is inevitable
when gas shells are thrown a long
distance kehind the lines. A brigadier
general and a major who were riding
in an automobile on a tour of inspec-
ton recently were gassed slightly
when a shell burst within a hundred
of their car. They suffered headache
and slight nausea, but otherwise there
were no i'll effects.
An American brigadier general said
today that he had asked for an Amer
lean divisional citation for each men,
Der of the raiding party of 26 Of his
men which assisted the French in the
raid of Feb. %, in which two German
officers and 81 men were captured.
Two officers and two men of the raid
ing party already have been decorated
by the French with the war cross.
This is the first request for honors
which has been made for Americans
in this sector.