Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-04-16
400 HUNS REPU[SED
BY FEW AMERICANS
Attempt to Deceive U. S. Men
by Speaking English Across .
mo Mans Land"
ENEMY CASUALTIES HEAVY

BY the Associated freks
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
FRANCE. April 15.-The German at
tack against the American positions on
the right bank of the Mouse. north of
St. Mihiel, yesterday was made by a
force of 400 picked troops. who were
recently brought there from the Rus
sian front.
Although the Americans were OUT
numbered more than two to one, they
completely repulsed the enemy. driving
him back to his own trenches. The
known enemy casualties include sixty
four dead, many wounded and eleven
prisoners. beside q number of wounded.
| who were dragged back to the German
lines by their comrades.
The Germans attempted to deceive
the Americans by appearing in front OF
the trenches and speaking French and
English. and also by yelling gas" The
| deception, however, was soon discover
ed and cost the enemy dearly. The
American casualties were comparative
| ly slight.
| Numerous stories of individual bravery
poured into the headquarters today. A
young Italian. born in Pennsylvania
| coal mining town, killed one German and
captured three. He saw eight Germans
walking in communication trench ahead
Of him. and although alone he shot and
\ killed one and ran after the others, cap
turing two and wounding some OF those
who escaped. He then returned to the
American limo and turned over the pris-
oners to a non-commissioned officer, and
/ coolly asked for a match.
Went Out and Won Match.
The officer jokingly said: It'll give you
a match II you bring in another prisoner"
The Italian, who is only i've feet four.
inches tall, took him at his word and
| in less than five minutes, walking with
drawn bayonet behind a six-foot German
| who was yelling "kamarad, kamarad."
! A few minutes later it was reported
| that ten Germans were lying IN Q ma
chine gun nest in no mans land. The
Italian started for the spot alone. but he
was ordered back by the commander of
the unit. who later sent detachment OF
men to rout out the enemy, which they
did.
! The prisoners captured by the Ameri-
cans were mostly young men under
twenty years of age. They carried two
days rations and intrenching tools. and
said they expected to occupy the Amerf.
complained about the German food. Tho
bread which they carried was almost
black in color. and they eagerly devoured
the white bread offered by their captors.
Made by Picked Men.
| The prisoners said the attack was
made by picked men Of four companies.
| two from the 272d Regiment. regular re-
serves: one of shock troops and one of
pioneers Some wore belts with large
buckle bearing the inscription Colt nit
uns" Several carried long trench knives
resembling dagger.
! A large percentage of the American
troops participating in this engagement
were sons Of foreign-born parents, some
\ of them being only seventeen or eighteen
ened to trench warfare, and absolutely
| fearless. There is nothing they like bet.
ter than a chance to go over the top.
The officers have difficulty in restraining
raiding party. Every man wishes to go:
and they are convinced that each or
them is better than two Germans. Yes.
terday they certainly proved 1t.
The enemy made the attack In FOUR
groups As soon as they reached the
| American wire entanglements they be-
gan yelling: Gas" At one point the
Americans began to put on their gas
| fire. but the ruse was discovered before
| the enemy could do any damage. The
Americans went at the Germans with
hand grenades. rifles and automatics.
Attempted Same Trick.
A small party OF Germans, who 4t.
| tempted the same trick at another
point. was outwitted by an American
who shouted: Fellows. there's too
| much wind for gas. They're Germans.
Give them hell,' And we did" added a
Massachusetts, lad who took part in tho
attack. Another group of the enemy
tried to impersonate entente allied
troops.
They didn't have the password" said
one American private. $50 we decided
to fire first and ask questions after
ward. but when we got through with
them there were none ready to talk"
One sergeant and two privates cut Off
in a corner of a trench held out for
more than two hours against a much
superior force and finally reached the
American lines in safety. Two other
Americans who had been made prisoner
and were being led near a strong point
in the American line were rescued by
comrades. who scattered the enemy. Ono
''doughboy" taken by the Germans was
pulled about fifteen yards over the
barbed wire, and then eluded the enemy
by jumping into a communicating
trench during a barrage.