The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-06-17
One Third of Attacking Force
Move Down.
Opposing Forces Fought In Ter.
rife Barrage.
u. 5. TROOPS ON GERMAN SOIL
AIsace Sector Seven Miles Over
Boundary Line.
Between BelfOrt and Frontier
of Switzerland.

With the American Armies in
France, June 17.-More than a third
Of the large force of Germans which
attacked Xivray at daybreak yester-
day was wiped out, 1t was established
today.
Eight hundred boches participated
in the attack, which was made on a
half-nile front. extending on both
sides of the village. The enemy losses
were estimated at more than 500. as
a result Of the Americans deadly rifle
and machine gun fire. Our losses
| were light and we took eight pris-
oners.
| Both artilleries maintained q ter
rifle barrage during the attack. Amer
| lean patrols raiding in the Toul Sec
| tor report enemy trenches are occu-
pied by an unusually large number
of troops. contrary to the recent poll
| icy of Withdrawing into the support
| trenches each night. The Germans
also are using a large number of OBJ
servation balloons.
| Bombardment Began at Midnight.
The Germans began to lombard the
towns held by the Americans behind
Xivray at midnight and continued the
cannonade thruout Sunday morning.
| In the meantime, a group OF about
100 enemy storm troops crawled
across No Mans Land. with the as
sistance of a barrage. They evidently
asleep in Xivray, which forms a pro-
truding point in the American front
lines.
Discovered at Dawn.
The Germans were discovered Just
4 before daybreak. The Americans inn
| lmediately opened deadly machine
gun cross fire from numerous points
in Xivray. simultaneously, the boches
4 started their artillery barrage.
One wave of 500 infantry. including
storm troops, charged across No Mans
Land toward the American trenches.
With the newly risen sun directly be-
hind them. the Germans were an ideal
target AS they crossed the flat coun-
try, the Americans moved them down
in heaps.
Wave Completely Broken.
The wave was completely broken,
Il with the exception of a small group
i which reached the village. These
/ were quickly ousted in bayonet fight
ing.
One hundred and fourteen Ameri-
cans held Xivray against nearly 600
German red guards. All our artillery
threw an intense box barrage around
the German attackers. cutting of their
return. Following the close fighting
in the streets and ruins Of Xivray. the
American drove the enemy back across
No Mans Land, until stopped by the
American box barrage. This practi-
cally annihilated the Germans. who
: would have driven them clear to the
| Rhine If 1t had not been for our own
barrage." said one doughboy. But
it got them"
l
| Couldn't Use Machine Guns.
The Germans carried q number Of
machine guns on stretchers but were
unable to use them. They were forced
to retire SO rapidly that they left many
of their wounded behind them. Twelve
; German prisoners said the object OF
the raid was to take American prison.
ers. But they did not do IT.
! The regiment from which the raid
ers were picked is reported to have
been brought here recently from
Pfcardy. 1t is composed of some Of
: the kaiser's best troops. A number
5 of the assaulting party carried food
: for two days. 1t is believed from this
E that they intended to hold Xivray per.
h. manently.
Women Under Fire.
: The Mcintyre sisters-Irene ana
: Gladys-of Mount Vernon, N. z, were
8 again under fire in this attack.
n Prisoners reports show that the
e Germans were trained for this attack
= more than a week. Smoke screens
u were used to hide their activities from,
o American observers.
1t is now permissible to announces
that the Americans have been occupy.
ing additional sectors on the Toul
. front, since May 27, including some
= east of Seicheprey, where the biggest
20 tight in this area was staged several
= weeks ago.
= For the second time since the Amer
= leans took over sector in German
II territory east of Belfort, official an
~ nouncement of which was permitted
a Saturday night, they repulsed a Ger
e man raid Friday morning, 1t may nov
= be stated. Only one American wal
captured and the enemy suffered -,
4 we're casualties.
French military officials now con,
firmed that Lieut.. Eddie Rickenbachey
has officially bagged five Ceruar
planes. His victims were acquired
r between April 20 and May 80. He d
the second American trained ace
Rickenbacher. who formerly was I
famous automobile race driver, de.
clares that aviation is safe, compared
n with motor racing.
The first announcement that Amera
can troops are in the line within Ger
man territory, made Saturday night
d located them south of the famous hill
" Of Hartmannsweilerkopf which 4
At twenty-five miles north of the SwiA
D frontier. Today's dispatch locate
them more definitely 'as east of Bel
l. fort" This would place them abou
m seven miles in German territory AM
e eight miles north of the Swiss bordes
p kirch apparently is about four mile
least of them.