Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-03-05
Detail of Fighting
AIOnQ American Front

WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
FRANCE, Sunday, March 3.-(By the
Associated Press -Volunteers from
American units along the Chemin des
Danes searched No Mans Land in
rain of machine gun bullets for thirteen
missing men of a patrol party. but did
not find any trace of them except one
man who had been killed 1t is GER
tain the Germans obtained 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 barage fire as soon as
the Germans started theirs. It is known
that three companies of especially train
ed "shock troops" which had been prac-
ticing for this operation for two weeks,
toop part in the attack. Each COM
pany was preceded by a picked party of
twenty pioneers.
The fighting was brisk for about an
hour, 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-
ualties and without having set foot in
the American trenches.
Soon after the attack was over a
members of which composed the patroll-
ing party which had gone out into No
Mans Land, went out to find them,
but without result. He returned TO
his trench and asked for a voluntary
detail. Every man in the platoon vol
unteered but the lieutenant picked out
a small party and set out again. They
we're forced to return, however, when
the German fire became increasingly
heavy.
The lieutenant and detail made a
third search just before dawn, but with
out success. All the missing me come
from New England.
The American general commanding the
unit on this front said the men were
eager for action, and were continually
asking permission to remain I'm the front
line longer than the allotted period. 1t
has been found necessary to caution
them frequently against exposing them
selves. they are so anxious 10 get
crack at the enemy. However, they are
tempted to peer over the top in tn day
time and go over at night IN the nope VI
starting something"
The French general who trained these
troops is proud of the showing they
are making while completing their
period of instruction. An American cap
tain said:
''Thev called us tin soldiers in Amer1-
ca less than a year ago, but / guess we
are delivering the goods just the same
Between 500 and 1900 gas shells are
thrown on the American positions on the
Cbernin des Danes front each day, but
there have been no serious gas casual
ties The men have been trained thor
oughlv in the use of gas masks and the
necessity of putting them on before go
ing into the trenches. They do not md
IL inconvenient to work and fight like
divers" as they say. A few men have
been gassed slightly while adjusting
their helmets but this is inevitable
when gas shells are thrown long dis
lance behind the lines. A brigadier gen.
eral and a major who were riding In an
automobile on a tour OF inspection
few days ago were gassed slightly when
a shell burst within a hundred yards OF
their car. The ysuffered from head
ache and slight nausea, but otherwise
there were no i'll effects.
An American brigadier general said
today he had asked for an American di-
visional citation for each member of
the raiding party Of twenty-six of his
men which assisted the French in the
raid on February % in which two Ger
man officers and twenty-one men were
captured Two officers and two men
of the raiding party already have been
decorated by the French with the war
cross. This is the first request for hon
ors which has been made for Americans
in this sector.
The Americans holding the Chemin