The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-03-02
After Repulse at the Hands
of Americans North
of Toul
LATTER SUFFERED
MANY CASUALTIES
Attack Was Preceded by a
Very Heavy Bonn
bardment

WIN tue AHeIlchn hhN M fIuhct
March 2-tBy Associated Press) Amer
lean troops repulsed a strong German
attack yesterday morning in the salien
north of Toul. There were many Amer
lean casualties, one of the killed benI
captain graduated from West Point
last year The raid was complete fail
ure, three German prisoners remaining in
American hands. The ground in front OF
The American trenches is strewn with
German dead
driving wet snow was falling when
the Germans opened fire on the Amcri-
can salient with every weapon at their
command. Seventy -seyens, heavy shells
and gas shells fell in q perfect whirlwind
on our trenches for half an hour At
the same time other enemy shells in
great numbers were dropping on the
American battery position.
The Germans, evidently thinking that
the Americans in this section, having had
one taste of gas a few DAYS ago, would
itdi II HoNs Itt lpO>t great
of poisonous gas. but the men put on
their masks and only a few were affect
ed by it. So intense was the fire that
the woods back of the salient were shot
to pieces.
At o'clock the barrage fire lifted on
the trenches to the right of the salient
and 240 Germans swept forward under
the protection of their fire.
Apparently expecting to make a big
haul, they jumped into what was left
of the trenches, but there, instead of
the easy time anticipated, found the
Americans all ready for battle. Fierce
hand tohand fighting began.
One American captain rallied men with
rifles and machine guns and went
through the American wire entangle-
ments into No Mans Land and there |
waited for the enemy, whom he ex-
peeted TO be driven out by his comrades |
in the trenches.
He was right, for soon groups of the |
enemy started back through the wire en-
tanglements. The Americans poured in
a deadly fire, but unfortunately the cap
tain was killed during the fight. He is
the first member of the 1917 class at
West Point to be killed.
While the Americans were in front of
the wire entangIements and in shell
holes, still fighting desperately, the
American barrage fire began sweeping
No Mans Land, catching many running
Prussans who had enough of American
methods. The barrage swept back and
forth making sure of doing all possible
damage to the foe.
When the enemy had been driven
back out of the positions the bodies
Of 10 German soldiers were found in the
American trenches. Two German Off
cers were entangled in the wire and {
many bodies We're in sight Eight were
visible through the snow storm at one
point. The ground was Uttered with
enemy hand grenades, boxes of explo-
.ives for destroying dugouts and ncen
liary bombs which the, had no opportuni-
" to use
They managed, however, to drop in
'endiary bombs in two dugouts, which
we're destroyed by fire, but no Americans
we're in them. If the Germans captured
my prisoners. which is doubtful, there
we're not more than two or three, possi-
,ly from listening post
OF the missing many were probably :
'uried. Digging for them is now pro
eeding and others may be accounted for.
Two German prisoners were wounded !"
nd the other taken was unhurt except
or welt on one of his hands where ]
e was struck by young American sol
ier when he showed fight after cap
ure.
From the prisoners the American Off {
ers have secured much valuable infor-
ma tlon One said
II did not have a chance to do any
hing before an American jumped on 10
ne and grab me by the throats."
The Germans had been preparing for a
he raid for three weeks. They be- Il
1nged to the 18th reserve division of s.
hanover. The prisoners had Russian il
pins in their possession and came into CO
he trenches here just before the Ameri- e'
ans took over this sector.
The Americans lost many killed and
ounded, including officers. The Ameri-
ans displayed the greatest personal N
ourage, bravery and energy throughout
ne engagement and outfought the sur
rsed enemy from the instant contact
as established III
During the bombardment a town be- "
ind the American line was heavily CT
relied and there were some casualties. M
m