The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-03-06
U. s. GUNNERS
FIRE ON TOWN
WITHIN LINES
OF THE HUNS
American Artillerymen in
Sector Northwest of Toul,
Liven Things Up for the
Germans.
U. S. BALLOON ASCENDS

WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
FRANCE, Tuesday, March 5.-By The
Associated Press.-During last night,
the normal artillery fire continued
and patrol parties were active on the
American sector northwest of Toul,
but there were no engagements.
At daylight an enemy airplane
swooped down on the American lines,
but was driven off by anti-aircraft
and machine gun fire before it could
bring its gun into use.
Today, an observation balloon went
up back of the American lines for the
first time with an American crew
which has been in training for sew
eral weeks. Anti-aircraft guns were
trained to protect the balloon from
enemy airplanes, some of which at
tackled it last week.
SHELLS INFREQUENT
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
FRANCE, Tuesday. March By The
Associated Press.-This has been
quiet day in the American sector
northwest OF Toul. The artillery on
both sides seemed content to fire a
few destructive shots. The shells
were infrequent until late in the aft
ernoon when the American artillery
livened things up a bit, firing on
town in the enemy lines where troops
had been seen.
Although the weather was bright
and clear for the first time in several
days, mist arose from the snow and
observation was obscured by the
ground haze.
Aerial forces took advantage of the
improved weather and operated free
ly. Groups of enemy planes came
over for Photographic work, but were
kept high in the air by the American
anti-aircraft guns. Planes from the
American lines also were out in force
In the trenches the men divided their
time between watching the aerial
operations and drying themselves in
he dugouts.
First Balloon Up
Observation balloons were up for the
first time in several days, being sta
toned at intervals along the front as
far as the eye could see in both direc-
tions. For the first time in the war
an American observation balloon, fully
manned and protected by Americans
went up.
This is the first complete unit of
the American air service to appear in
the field, For two days it had been
ready to ascend. the observers hav-
ing been up in a French balloon sew
eral days previously. Today an Amer
lean balloon company was working
where the French hitherto have been.
The balloon was hauled out from it's
al In1a
experienced in getting it off the ground
because the telephone wires from the
basket, in which were an American
captain and lieutenant. were fouled
This was quickly remedied and the
air several hours.
1t rose higher than either the
French or the German, in an attempt
to reach an altitude specially favor
able for observation. While it was at
the highest point the watchers saw
two airplanes, with the black cross
of the enemy on their wings, headed
in their direction.
The balloon was hauled down so
that 1t might be grounded quickly if
necessary. American gunners were on
duty at many places nearby. for the
balloon was protected heavily. They
stood by their guns, but the enemy
planes, sailing across the sky with
shrapnel puffs streaming out behind
them like the tail of Il comet, suddenly
changed their course and headed for
home. The appearance of a squadron
Of planes from behind the American
lines bearing the insignia of the
French on their wings, probably was
the cause.