Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-04-21
1000 Teuton Storming
Troops Assail Ameri-
cans in Toul Region.
SEICHEPREY TAKEN
BY FOE, THEN LOST
Yankees Regain Most of Ground
Lost and Inaict Heavy
Casualties.
By the Associated Press.

WITH IHE AMERlC AN
ARMY IN FRANCE, April 20
Twelve hundred German storm
troops-the largest number ever
concentrated against the Ameri-
can troops for an offensive opera
tion-were hurled against the
American positions on one-mile
front west of Renneres forest,
northwest of Toul, today, after a
terrific bombardment OF gas and
high explosive shells.
The enemy succeeded in pene-
Itrating the front-line trenches and
taking the village of Seicheprey,
but after furious hand-to-hand
fighting, which was still going on
at nightfall, the American troops
|recaptured the village and most
Iof the ground lost in the early
fighting.
No Americans were taken
prisoner, but three Germans were
captured.
German airplanes, flying at low
attitudes, attempted to disorgan-
ize the American fighting men,
but two enemy aviators were
brought down and the others
driven off.
The Germans suffered heavy
casualties and the American lines
remained virtually intact.
All o. S. Fliers Return Safely.
The German airmen poured machine
gunfire into the American troops, but
the anti-aircraft batteries came into
play and American airmen. took the
air. All the American airmen returned
safely.
The attacking troops carried rations
and intrenching tools. indicating that
they intended to occupy the American
positions for long period. heavy
haze overhung the sector when the at
tack began. but later there was bril-
liant sunshine. The American artil-
lerymen did valiant work, the men on
, many of the batteries wearing gas
masks.
The enemy's casualties are believed
to have been the heaviest sustained by
them thus far in any operation against
American troops. Numbers of Germa II
dead are lying in no mans land in
front of the American trench.
Rumbling Lasts Through Day.
The correspondent viewed the battle
from a hill short distance behind the
lines. Trains moved to the front with
great regularity and scores of huge
shells were seen bursting, throwing up
clouds of white smoke in, the neighbor-
ing hills. The heavy rumbling was
heard all day.
The ambulanceS tore over the she'll
torn roads and approached to within a
short distance of the front line. Num-
berS OF men in the rear positions begged
their commanders to be sent up to as
sist the infantrymen bearing the brunt
of the attack. The men of all services
were eager for an opportunity to fight
the enemy in the open.
Germans Get Surprise.
| The resistance offered by the Ameri-
can troops was surprise to the en-
, emy, who expected to break through
with little difficulty.
| Contrasted with the activity of the
I Americans behind the lines, scores of
| old men, women and children were
seen peacefully employed in the fields.
apparently unmindful of the furious
| fighting which is going on less than
| hve miles away. The troops in nearby
towns eagerly sought news EXPRESSING q
confidence in the Americans and hoping
| for the chance to take part.
! All the Americans moving to the
| front were in the highest spirits and
| waved their caps to the cheering VII
! layers.
Teuton Raid Repulsed.
| r,;a