Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-10

American forces in France are proving
| their metal. They now are holding down
three different
American Troops sections of the
Are Proving Worth. ir two places
in corporation with Gen. Petain's men
and in the third. the Toul region. they
have eight miles of front line for their
very own. The American units in Lor-
raine and in the Champagne are under
going period of training and soon will be
used in extending the line to the south
east OF Verdun. All forces now in front
line trenches have been attacked by the
Germans during the past two weeks. In
every case the Teutons have been turned
back with Heavy losses. The Americans
have fought with such vim and energy
that the French have been unsparing in
their plaudits and express confidence that
than merely take care of itself in the
present struggle. Fritz is going to get
the surprise of his life when Cen. Pessh
ing's men get into major offensive actions,
according to French critics The Ameri-
can artillery las shown unusual accuracy
in it's fire, which insures adequate protec-
ton for the infantry as welt as lnsurlng
a strong barrier against Germanic
schemes of aggression.
The most recent clash IN which the
Americans engaged was in the Lorraine
sector where the German raiders az
tempted to break through the American
positions or at least penetrate them SO
as to obtain prisoners. The TeutonS got
only death and injury for their palms, and
the Americans in a counter raid obtained
prisoners.
In the Toul region the German artillery
has kept I'D almost constant heavy bonn
tardment in recent days The American
guns. however, have replied with telling
effect. Not since the successful activity
of Friday 4 week ago when the Ameri-
cans assisted the French in their starting
attack in the Cham payne have the units
in this particular region been more than
ordinarily busy.
The Germans have shown unusual &C
tivity on all sections of the western
front during the past week, they mar
ing two raids to the allies one In ad-
dition the Germans have at different
periods concentrated heavy artillery
fire certain sectors in tlanders ana
France. German fliers likewise nave
participated in the general operations
which are designed to sound out allied
lines.
Raiding activities. as has been point
ed out are essential in deterinlnlng the
strength of enemy forces and their dis
tribution. their chief purpose being to
obtain prisoners from whom it IS hoped
Information can be obtained. 1t gen
orally is believed that the allies by viz
tue of the aerial superiority know eX-
actly of the German dispositions, but
owing to the extremely reflective aerial
barriers the allies have raised on the
western front the Germans are not so
certain of allied strength and position.
1t is but natural that preceding sum-
rner of severe lighting that the Ger
mans should endeavor to obtain prison
ers that the much -needed information
be obtained.
Germans during the past week struck
the allies in the region of Warneton,
Bexonvaux. Ploygon wood. Gauzeau-
court, st. Quentin, Chemin des Danes
Malincourt wood. in Lorraine, near
Epehy. Co.'s Grenier. PoeIcapelle. Avo-
court wood and Hill 344, but not in
single instance did they score success.
the majority of their raiders being
turned back. The remainder were left
dead or wounded in no mans land. The
British scored successes near Warne-
ton. BulIecourt Lens, Gapaard. east of
Mcssines. and in the Pachendaele re-
gion. The French made greatest head
way near Calonne, where in a raid on
a front of 1900 meters they penetrated
enemy positions to depth Of 500
meters Many German prisoners and
guns were taken and heavy casualties
inflicted.