The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-10-04
ADVANCE BEHIND
HEAVY BARRACE
Americans Make Smashing At.
tack in Champagne and Reach
Somme-P -Py-Antigny Road.
HUNS FIGHT FIERCEL Y
Yankee Shells Blast German
Defenses on Mont Blanc
Into Bits.

part in big attack in Champagne
sector. Advance considerable
distance.
With the American Army In
France, Oct. 3.7-(s pm. y
American troops went into action
this morning on the Champagne
front. A report from the French
army states that they had ad-
vanced considerably by noon and
had taken Blanc Mont and Me-
deah farm.
The capture of Blanc Mont
and Mcdeah farm was announced
in last nights French official
Statement. 1t was not made
known, however, that American
forces had executed the capture.
The Americans here are evidently
cooperating with Gen. Gouraud's S
army in the Champagne, pushing
the attack on the left. Blanc
Mont is more than three miles
northwest of Somme-Py, while
the captured farm lies just to the
east.
OF Tactical Importance.
French forces in the Champagne
have captured Orfeuil and Bemont-
Chateau, northwest of Somme-Py.
Mont Blanc, a position OF considerable
tactical Importance, also has been
taken from the Germans.
Tanks Smash Forward.
The American tanks, after smashing
their way through the German lines,
wheeled about and repeated the oper-
alton with deadly results. The enemy
losses were extremely heavy. In one
German company, nine men were
killed and thirty were wounded out of
seventy. In another company ten
were killed and forty wounded out of
eighty.
Flyers Successful.
With the American Forces North
west of Verdun, Oct. 3.-Abileville,
Gorze, Haydenville and Marcq were
bombed,
In twelve days flying on this front,
thirty-fou successful missions have
been undertaken by the American
ayiators.
(By Henry G.. Wales.)
With the American Army in Cham
pagne Sector, Oct 3.-(Night) )-Driv-
ing forward behind rolling barrage,
American troops delivered smashing
attack in the Champagne district to-
day, storming the formidable German
defensive work on Mont Blanc and
capturing Medeah farm.
The Americans advanced a consid-
cradle distance along the main Somme-
Py-Attigny highway and at last reports
were maintaining steady progress.
(Somme-Py is twenty-three miles
cast of Rheims. Attigny is sixteen
miles north OF Somme-Py. Medeah
farm is three miles north of Somme-
Ply and Mont Blanc is nearby)
Cooperate With Gouraud.
The Americans Co-operated with
Gen. Gouraud's army west of the Ar
gonne forest, and their first big attack
In this zone was entirely successful.
All of the objectives were carried by
the Americans in the first rush.
The assault, which centered astride
the highway running due north from
Somme-Py was through sparse woods. |
At the same time strong pressure was
directed westward towards st. Etienne |
(three miles west of the Somme- Py- !,
Attigny highway, near which Mont !
Blanc is located on the top of knoll
amidst heavy woods.
Krupp guns were thickly emplaced |
there, but many of them were knocked |
'ut by the American bomba rdment.
The tremendous barrage fire which !
preceded the American assault smashed |
Ill resistance. Where machine gun
ners were encountered, the American
Infantry advanced in waves, going for
ward by means of infiltration.
Flank Machine Guns.
The first line would move forward,
banking German machine gun nests
and strong points, while the second
and third lines followed. "Inopping up"
The thick woods hindered complete
cooperation by the airplanes, but in
spite of these obstacles the airmen
made new record in regulating the
artillery fire. The gunners kept con-
stant wave of bursting shells in front
of the advancing ranks.
German batteries west of Suippes
laid down an enfilading fire which
bothered the Americans until our long
range heavies began to roar. The Ger
man gun positions were positively
drenched with gas,
AS the attack progressed It swerved
in northwesterly direction, menacing
the boches' positions north of Rheims.
Following the drumfire which preceded
the infantry advance, the Americans
put out thick smoke screen which
ClOaked tnejr TnOven1 entS.
Prisoners Captured.
A number of prisoners were cap
tured. but they had not been counted
at the time this dispatsh was written
Several lotteries of German field
guns and numerous machine guns were
included among the booty.
Some Of the German machine gun
ners put UP stout resistance, but the
Americans with fixed bayonets
swarmed over the German machine l.,
gun nests. sweeping them clear of
boches with the cold steel.
There was n savage struggle around
Mont Blanc. The Germans had spent
much time and care in making 1t as
as possible. The slopes {
we're criss- crossed with lines Of entan-
elements.
The American gunners turned loose :
1 storm of shells against the German {
position which blasted it to bits. Pro- I
|ectiles Of heavy caliber literally rained
lpon the summit and slopes Of this !
,illock. sending up great geysers OF !,
earth and rocks and bits of wire.
When the cannon ceased the infan-
ry swept up the slopes and began
'ounding up the Germans from caves
IN the reverse slopes
New Drive.
The new American drive launched in
he Chamnagne district Is not to he
confused with the attack between the