Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1918-03-16

corps, was wounded by German Shel
the leaders in England, France anu
Italy, as to the wisdom OF giving ia
pan q free hand in this connection.
-
American troops in the front line
trenches in France have had their real
baptism of fire. They have taken part
in several engagements with the enc
my, one of which approached the dig
nifty of a real battle. The Americans
have repulsed several raids made by
the Germans and inflicted heavy
losses upon the enemy. The most
pretentious engagement was that
which resulted from strong German
attack upon the American lines in the
Toul sector. A large force of German
"shock" troops, trained especially for
this operation, attacked the American
line after heavy artillery fire had
practically leveled the American
trenches. The American troops, I'M
dismayed by the terrific bOmbardment,
stood their ground and engaged in
hand-to-hand struggle with the Ger
man raiders in the trenches. The Ger
mans were driven back into No Mans
Land, leaving three prisoners and
many dead in the American trenches.
The Americans pursued the fleeing
Germans and inflicted further losses
as the enemy retreated to their own
lines, The Americans suffered severe
casualties, the dead including three
officers and seventeen men, but the
American lines were maintained at all
points and the raid was declared a
complete failure. Many cases of In
dividual heroism on the part of the
Americans were reported and several
officers and men were decorated by
the French premier for bravery.
Other raids upon the American
lines In the Chemin DIES Danes sector
and in Lorraine were also repulsed
with severe losses to the enemy. In
all these engagements the American
troops have shown that, despite their
inexperience in the new type of war
fare, they are now perfectly at home
| In the trenches and are able to hold
their own against the enemy.
The increasingly large part which
| Pershing's troops are taking In the
! fighting on the west front is indicated
! by the announcement that the Amer.
leans are now holding something over
eight miles Of trenches on the battle
front. This front is liable to extern
sion ut any time to the regular trench
allotment for an army corps. The
present American sector is understood
to be a divisional frontage, which
means that at least three divisions OF
| American troops are there to give the
necessary support for the front lines
The growing activity Of the American
troops is further shown by the daily
casualty lists which are now coming
from General Pershing.
Announcement has been made thai
the third American Liberty loan viii
be offered soon. The campaign fol
subscriptions will open on April 6
the first anniversary of the entry o.
the United States into the war, ant
will continue for three or four weeks
The amount of the loan. the interes
rate and other features have not beer
made public but the fact that furthe
legislation will be sought from con
gress in anticipation Of the loan indi
Gates that the amount of the issu'
will be more than $500. 100000, tn
remainder of authorized but unisSue'
bonds. The campaign work for tn
new loan has already been starte'
throughout the country and every dis
trict will have been thoroughly organ
lied before the drive begins.
"a
Several steps have been taken b.
the United States government to fur
Their coordinate and centralize tn
work of war preparation. The tw
outstanding developments along thi
line were the appointment of Bernar
NJ. Baruch Of New York as Chairman
of the war industries board with great
" enlarged powers. and the assumI
ton by Maj. Gen. Peyton G. Marc
Of his duties as acting chief Of staff.
|, Mr.. Baruch. according to the pres
dents own announcement. made in hi
letter Of appointment, will have grea
er powers even than it was propose
by certain members of congress
confer upon minister Of munitions
He will be, in fact, a practical dict;
[ tor over industrial problems relatin
to the war and will have, among othe
, things. the last word in determinin
, priority of supplies for the govern
ment whenever there is competitive {
{ other conflict of interest among depar
| ments. The power placed in the hant