Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-08-31
Americans Take Part
in Desperate Bdttiinq

| american air unit, comprising 10
pilots. shows that during July 1t shot
down 2S enemy airplanes and one
balloon. Eighteen other planes are
claimed to have been brought down
put these are not confirmed. The
American airmen engaged In 144
combats and went on 131 cambat
patrols.
The units best days were July 16,
when six enemy machines and one
balloon were destroyed, and July "a,
when five airplanes were destroyed
without an American casualty.
Austrian Morale Bad
An Austrian taken prisoner on the
western front says the morale of the
austrian army now is so bad that
| German troops habitually are placed
behind them with orders to shoot
any men who endeavor to desert.
While the French troops on the
right and left of the Americans on
the front north of Scissors struggled
forward to-day. the Americans sent
thousands of rounds of high explo-
sive shells and shrapnel into the Ger
man positions. They made little ef-
Tort to advance their line.
| Late this afternoon some progress
was made by the Americans in the
region of Juvigny.
Although the day was not marked
by any spectacular advance, there
was far from a lull in the activities
on, the American front.
Germans Fight Well
Since the Americans appeared on
Wednesday the Germans have dis
played stubbornness and skill. They
have good positions and are defend
ing them in manner which would
suggest that they might even attempt
serious counterattack. The posi-
tfons of the Americans are perhaps
not so good, and the contest seems
to have narrowed down to one of
comparative merits of officers and
men of the two organizations.
Before the day was over the Ger
mans had begun to show signs of
| weakening and observers reported
troop movements which appeared to
Indicate regrouping and perhaps
retirement.
The orders to the Americans were
to maintain harassing fire through
out the day, and even the minor at
lack of one flank was decided upon
only after the advance made by the
French indicated its advisability
Yankees Dig In
fantry remained in the positions they
had held last night. Dug in behind
almost every little rise on the plateau
and on the hillside, they awaited the
order to attack. Closer to the Ger
man positions scores of shell holes
sheltered the men from the sweeping
machine gun fire, while further to
the rear there were companies wait
ing to be called to their support.
The artillery went into the action
early in the morning, not in barrage,
but firing first at one point in the
German lines and then at another. in
accordance with reports indicating
places where the Germans were
mobilizing or where there might be
danger of a concentration. Rarely. If
ever, have the American troops de-
livered over such a period so con-
tinuous a fire. 1t was of a Furnishing
character that must have wrought
terrible destruction, and probably
much Generalization.
Lines Close Together
The lines are close together, and
great shells from the howitzers were
mixed with those of the lighter char
acter, while the big long range
American guns sent far in the rear of
the enemy lines shells to places in
dicated by observers in the aerial
service.
The American infantry between
the lines was forced to become a part
of the action to-day by the de-
termined Germans. whose long line
of machine gun emplacements was
supplemented by groups of infantry
who fired at every appearance of the
Americans. 1t was a day of sniping
for them, especially the machine
gunners. One gunner had the trick
of holding the trigger until just three
shots were fired. All day long his gun
gave forts its tat, tat, tat" every
burst being followed by a slight
change in direction.
Wounded in Legs
A large part of those caught in the
ground-sweeping fire were wounded
in the legs below the knees.
The Germans in front of the Amer
leans at times were subjected not
only to the fire of the American guns
but to a supplemental raking from
the French. 1t has been impossible
to ascertain the German casualties,
but it is certain that they were
heavy.
The big gunfire reached the maxi
mum of intensity. The roar of the
artillery rose in a great crescendo.
The Americans used no gas shells.
The Germans did, however, but in
slightly smaller quantities than
usual.
U. S. Patrols Active
American patrols are active each
night keeping in contact with the
enemy along the Vesle. The Ameri-
can officers continue to believe that
the Germans will soon be compelled
to withdraw at least as far as the
Aisne, owing to the constant pres