Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1918-03-15

Partio:.;7 ale in Three Raids On
Enemy Pos: icns-3oches
Flee Un:'er Fire.
GEkM.h.::S .4,..- DvA1D IN
earra9e Prevents Thanking Moves
Americans Cooperating with
French, Take Materials and
Document.

French, Take Materials and
Document.
With the American Army in France,
March Incorporating with the
french, American troops have carried
out three raids opposite the American
sector in Lorraine. Two OF the.
caids were \executed Simultaneous
". The Americans swept past the
German first lines and penetrated to
he enemy's second line, 600 yards
back.
Shells Prepare Way.
The simultaneous raids were made
after intense artillery preparation
lasting for four hours, in which Ger
man positions were leyeled. At mid
night two. forces, accompanied By
small French forces on their TANKS,
moved upon the German detectives
behind creeping barrage, each on a
front of 600 yards. When the Amer
leans reached the enemy first lines
The barrage was lifted so as to box in
The German positions at both points.
The men dropped into the enemy's
trenches, expecting a hand to hand
fight, but found the Germans had
fed Continuing, they went forward
500 yards to the second German line.
All the time American machine guns
were firing on each flank Of the two
parties to prevent the enemy from
undertaking flanking operations.
One French 1anking party found
two wounded Germans in a dugout
and took them prisoner. The Ameri-
cans found none.
Blow up Enemy Works.
The Americans remained for As
minutes in the enemy lines. They
found excellent concrete dugouts,
which they blew up and also brought
back large quantities of material and
valuable papers. While they were in
the enemy lines, German artillery be-
gan a vigorous counter barrage. 1t
was quickly silenced by American
heavy and light artillery which hurl-
ed large quantities of gas shells on
the batteries.
An American trench mortar bat
terry participated in the artillery prep
aration> preceding the raid, helping to
level the enemy positions.
Soon after these two raids had
been carried the Americans staged
another at point further along the
line to the right. They went over the
top after artillery preparation Of 10
minutes in which the enemy posi-
tons attacked were obliterated. At
this place the dugouts were found to
have been constructed principally OF
logs. Engineers accompanying the
raiding party completed the artil-
lery's work of destruction.
Raids Carried Out SkiIlfulIy.
The raids were carried out skill
fully and but for the fact that the
Germans fed more prisoners doubt
less would have been taken. Ameri-
can gas shells are believed to have
caused many casualties among the
enemy. No Americans are unac-
counted for.
Ohio Troops Successful.
Forces in the Lorraine. region ex~
ecuted the first big American destrue-
tive attack, east of Reillon. Fifty
Ohio troops and 60 French sappers,
after heavy artillery preparation,
charged GOO yards, capturing all OBJ
jectives.
While the American raiders fur
nished protection, the French sappers |
blew up wire entanglements, obser-
vation posts, shelters and caves. The
Germans had retired before the at.
:ackers reached the enemy trenches.
The Franco-Americans returned to |
heir own trenches after 80 minutes,
With casualties Of only four wounded.
Meanwhile east of Neuvillers ana
before Badonvillers, two detach-
nents, each containing one company
" French, penetrated the German
ines and destroyed three trenches.
they took two Germans prisoner.
Blow Oefenses Skyward.
The men in another sector pene-
rated $50 yards beyond the German
bird lines.
They encountered some intact dug
uts and pillboxes. They shouted for
he Germans to come out. The latter
eplfed by firing at the Americans.
and incendiary bombs hurI-1
d into the German defenses, blew
hem skyward. ~-,.-,.- to-
When the raiders reached the
erman third line they found the de-
lolition even more complete than in
ne previous two. They cleaned up
Re third line, making a thorough
earch for military documents and
Their bits of information. q