Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-03-04
run SOLDIERS
EXPECT DEFEAT
PRISONERS CAPTURED BY AMER
leans SAY KAISER CAN
NOT WIN WAR.
NEWSPAPERS SUPPRESS
NEWS OF V. s. ACTIVITIES
Seeking to Keep People in Ignorance
Of Americas Participation in War
Pershins's Men Secure Evidence
Showing Care With Which Attacks
Are Prepared by Germans.

Saturday, March, "A plan of attack,
including a map Of the American posi-
lions, indicating every dugout, which
was removed from the body Of the
Prussian captain who led the recent
assault upon the sector northwest OF
Toul, shows how completely the Ger
mans prepare their raids-if, in fact,
this was but a simple raid, not having
as it's ultimate object the retention Of
a portion of the salient.
The map goes into such detail as to
show every machine gun emplacement,
every trench, and every depression in
the ground within the American lines.
At the bottom there is simply line
drawn, labeled "our front line" Along
this line are five shaded portions, each
marked "Nest."
Four rehearsals were held for the
were specially picked from new ar
rivals of fresh troops in the sector.
They were told that the Americans
were in front Of them.
Led by Pioneers.
After the artillery had nearly leveled
the American position the Germans
started out from their nests, each of
which contained forty infantrymen, one
lieutenant, and three pioneers to pre-
cede the infantry and five to follow it.
The two groups upon the American ex-
IRENE right went around this flank,
and the group upon the extreme left
carried out a similar movement there.
The two groups in the center had
planned to attack directly, but the
American defense changed all the
plans. When they were met by the
heavy machine gun fire from the Am
erican lines they saw it would be i'm
possible to gain footing there, chang
ed their direction, and followed the
other groups around the flank.
The duty Of the pioneers preceding
the infantry was to clean up any wire
that had not been broken by the artil-
lery, while the pioneers who followed
carried large quantities Of explosives
for the purpose Of cleaning up the
dugouts.
Lose Victory Hope.
Official reports of the Interrogation
Of the prisoners taken by the Amerl-
cans, show that all of them did not
believe Germany would win the war.
One of the men told the intelligence
officers he presumed that the Ameri-
cans, like the Germans, did not want
to fight but had to. The officers quick
ly changed the Germans viewpoint by
informing him that all Of the troops
in attacked positions were volunteers.
One prisoner, whose home Is IN
German Lorraine, said he thought the
fatherland would lose the war, but he
hoped not He knew nothing about
the Americans except that they were
in the war, the German newspapers
not printing much upon the subject,
he said, and being slow in reaching the
front lines because of mail congestion.
Peace Caused Strikes.
This prisoner said he was convinced
that the recent strikes in Germany
were caused by desire for peace,
adding that all Germany wanted the
war to end. He was certain that an
offensive was coming, but did not be-
lieye it would be launched before April
l.
None Of the prisoners had seen any
German tanks, they said. All Of them
added they were glad to have been
taken prisoner, especially by the Am
orleans, because they believed they
would be we'll treated.
The prisoners accounts showed that
the sector opposite the American posi-
ton was commanded by General Stalz-
mann.
Praise Hero Comrades.
The correspondent talked with
dozen Of the American wounded in
their hospital cots. Every one of them
was anxious to tell of some deed or
heroism or other performed by his fell
lows, but displayed great modesty re-
garding his own exploits.