The Washington herald., 1918-04-01
u. S. SOLDIERS EAGER To fight GERMANS

CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.
German snipers opened fire. The
Americans withdrew. They suffered
no casualties.
r. Harass Germans.
At another point one of our patrols
reconnoitered in the German trenches
for certain distance without en-
countering any enemy soldiers. A
third patrol reached a French air
plane which had crashed to earth
within the German barbed wire belt
on March .. They found that the
French engine had been removed by
the Germans.
American harassing fire scattered
German working parties. The Krupp
gunners are reveFting to the use OF
three-inch field guns. They hurled
thirty-four gas shells and seven shrap-
nels at one point. =
The continued movement in the en-
emy's rear is regarded by the Ameri-
cans as significant. An entire bat
talon was seen moving this morning.
This coupled with cavalry maneuver-
ing, the shifting of infantry and the
racing to and fro of stan automobiles
speculation on our side of the front.
Lights seen last night on the sum-
nit OF Mont Sec cause suspicion that
they may be beacons guiding German
airplanes in raids over our lines.
One Of our reconnaissance patrols
entered the German trenches on the
Toul front early this morning. pene-
trating It to q depth OF several yards.
They found 1t more heavily occupied
than usual. so they withdrew, suffer-
ing no casualties.
= Show Activity.
Two Companies Of Germans were
observed manoeuvering in the Ger
man rear. possibly rehearsing a raid.
The enemy is showing greater ae-
tivity. numerous working parties
carelessly exposing themselves and
offering many targets for the Ameri-
can snipers and our thirty-seven mill
imeter guns.
One of these guns fred forty rounds
into a German machine gun nest,
blowing 1t up entirely. Several en-
emy soldiers have been seen wearing
new uniforms and carrying marching
kits. Aviation activity was prevented
by rains.
Every American soldier in France
is thrilled to the core by Gen. Per-
shing's offer to place the American
Expeditionary Force at the disposal
OF Gen. Petain for use wherever
the allied high command sees ~fit,
in this &supreme defensive test
against TIE enemy's reckless ex-
penditure of lives In an attempt to
break through.
The American soldiers showed
the results of. their training in their
whole conduct. even in the salute
when staff cars passed. The train
ing Is now over. The beginning of
the real thing Is at hand. The
troops are glad to get into action,
particularly in this crucial period.
News reaching here Is to the ef-
feet that the French and British
have definitely stopped the enemy.
This is indicated even by today's
(Saturday). -communique from Ber-
lin.
Drive Halted.
The news was received with the
intensest joy by the Americans who
now feel sure that they will be in
the thick OF II when the tables are
turned on the foe.
The news that the German drive
has been definitely stopped, which
even the Berlin communique prac-
tically admits. was received with the
greatest enthusiasm by the American
troops who had become somewhat I
pessimistic temporarily.
Everywhere it is realized that time
means much more to the allies than
IT does to the enemy, and also that
time increases the probability Of
American participation in the great
decisive struggle.
Hindenburg's advance has been re-
allied by the expenditure of many d.
visions which cannot be created syn
thetically. and II the Germans con-
tinue theif pressure they must expend
more livef. which 1t Is impossible for
them to 10 continually.
II wofst comes to worst, many
Americahs otherwise regarded as un-
nt for the trenshss becznss AZ Lack