The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-02-23
Sector in Lorraine, North west of TouI, Becoming
 More and More Active
|PERSHING'S TROOPS
 WITH FRENCH ON
 CHEMIN-DES-DAMES
This Is Revealed in Report of Patrol Fight-French
 General Kisses Flag
ny the Associated Press

Fly the Associated Press With the American Army in France, February 22.-To-
 day the artillery bombardment was still more intense on the American sector northwest of
 Foul. Night and day enemy projectiles are falling in towns
 and have been directed at q number of strategical points.
 The damage done has been un- important.
 Three American artillerymcn
 have been wounded. Our guns |replied to the enemy with three shells for one, firing accurate ly on roads and enemy works. Shells were dropped on a party of seven Germans repairing wire entanglements. Some were wounded and the rest scattered.
 Early this morning small enemy Iparty attempted to raid our lines and was driven off by rifle and machine l gun fire, after which artillery fire chased them back to their lines A trench mortar projectile fell on one of our trenches today, killing three and wounding four Rain has prevented aerial activity and the trenches and dvgcuts are flcodedl CHEMIN- -DES-DAMES LINE With the American Army in France, February 22-In patrol fight Amer jeans from units under instruction in ! the famous Chemin-d -des-Dames sector killed one German and captured an- other. One American was slightly wounded
 This Is the first time it has been permitted to reveal the fact that new American units have entered the line. The troops have been there for some- time, suffering slight casualties, but their presence was kept secret until 1t was certain the enemy knew they were there.
 SINGLE-HANDED CAPTURE Details of the patrol fight are as vet unavailable beyond the unofficial re- port that the prisoner taken was cap- tured single-handed by . young AmerI- can from one of the New England states who. during the engagement. dropped into shellhole on top of a German hiding there. and later brought him in.
 The American forces entered the line on one of the darkest nights through a shell-pitted region. dotted with she'll wrecked towns. The French general com manding the sector, hero of the Marne, greeted them as comrades-in- arms. and kissed the American flag.
 TROOPS ARE EAGER
 Throughout the irregular period of service In the line, these troops have displayed great eagerness to establish a record equal to or better than that of the troops holding the sector north- west of Toul.
 The orders for them to leave their billets came suddenly few weeks ago. The troops entrained and rode to the railhead nearest the position into which they were going for improved landscape. They knew whither they were bound and welcomed the opportunity to start the work of fighting the Germans. ADVISED TO GO SLOW The units as they detrained were re- ceived by the French general command ing the sector who kissed the flag rev erently and then addressed tho men, saying that he held them in the same regard as his own soldiers. and that they were brothers in arms fighting for the same great cause. He warned them to be cautious in dealing with the en- emy over the distant hills. The French soldiers. he said. were slillful in hunt ing these wild beasts.'' and were glad of the opportunity to pass along their knowledge to the lines of their Ameri- can comrades. He recognized that they were courageous and anxious to test themselves against the enemy. but ad-. visea that they should go slow at first.
 SING AS THEY MARCH
 The troops made long march to the line singing at intervals to help the foot to move faster and tighten the load they were carrying. They passed through mile after mile of shell-scarred. desolated ground. and through q num- Der of great piles or stones and debris which once were villages. but now with- out single house left standing. The scenes of desolation on such lares scale impressed the Americans deeply and many If them expressed the hope that they would soon be able to help punish the perpetrators
 The troops marched in and took their positions, without hitch. to the music of the roaring guns, both friendly and hostile. their flashes frequently stab- bling the blackness of the night. first [here and there. like lighting. as far las the eye could see.
 On the occasion Of their arrival. n
 (csatianea ea Pass Twsl