The Washington herald., 1918-03-04
FOIL RAID
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the salient tip, and then kill or cap
ture all in front while at the same
time driving all other Americans
against the frontal attackers wait
ing TO ambush them with machine
guns and automatic rifles.
Three pioneers carrying long pipes
Crammed with high explosives pre-
ceded the "Stesstruppen." They were
to destroy any barbed wire that had
escaped the bombardment The storm
troops were equipped with grenades
and inCendiary bOmbs-with which 10
kill the occupants OF duSouts il such
occupants refused to surrender.
Surprise Germans.
Bu; there was a flaw IN the Gerwan.
When the raiders arrived they
found the Americans all waiting wiGh
automatic pistols and rifles ready and
anxious for a scrap. This and oth,r
cases illustrate that the Germans un-
dere3timated the American fighting
qualities and expected TO ind them
Eerve-racked and helpless after the
terrific bombardment.
Instead Of throwing odifrous bombs
into the duGouts to drive out The uc-
cupants. the Germans contemptously
ordered: "Raus, you Americans"
American bullets came out nrst. how
ever. and soldiers came tumbing aft
erward, eager to get into hand-to-
hand combats with the wreckers of
their homes"
The German Lieutenant who com
manded one raiding group spoke
English. lie ordered Surrender"
A pistol cracked and the lieutenant
fell. The Americans pushed up the
stairway scattering the leaderless
enemy. When the last Germans
had been killed or captured or had
escaped our troops Immediately be-
gan reorganizing the demolished
first line. utilizing the huge era
ters made by the 'Minnies"
Investigation revealed that many
duGouts were not damaged, but
were merely buried deeper and
made better by tons of earth that
hurled over them when a mine or
shell burst nearby. Those durouts
We're soon made habitable again.
The bringing up of new supplies
also was begun promptly.
Prisoners Happy.
Little wiring was possible dur
ing the night owing to the machine
gun fire. Although a few wounded
Germans cried help" mOaned and
cursed as they were lying wounded
amid the debris of the American
barbed wire the enemy would not
slacken his machine gun fusillade
to permit American Rec Cross men
to carry these men to safety. and
dress their wounds. Thus all but
one died. That one was brought in
by two Americans who obtained
permission during the binding snow
to go out in search for victims.
They found The German shot
through the hip lying IN 4 hole filleA
with water. He pleaded TO he shot To
end his misery. They sent him to
an American field hospital. Later
Americans stealthily buried a half
dozen German corpses where they
were lying.
Prisoners questioned by American
intelligence officers vaguely believe a
German offensive is coming, but did
not know where. All said they did
not want to fight, but were Obliged to.
some of them adding: Il like you
Americans" None ever saw the Ger
man tanks that are said 20 have been
constructed for the coming offensive.
All asserted the raid was a reprisal
for the recent action OF the foreign
legion. near FGrey. when 800 prison.
ers were taken and the German first.
second and third lines were blown
up.
The younger ones among the pris-
oners said the German TatiUns were
sufficient and they like them The
older soldiers asserted it was INSULT
cient. All found the Ameri ,ans ra-
tions wonderful" The whole batch
was manifestly happy 10 have heen
captured.