Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-10-05

AMERICANS ARE IN THICK
OF FURIOUS FIGHTING
ON FIFTY MILE FRONT

French attacking 1.-THE American left
and following up our advance. A deter
mined enemy counter attack was re-
pulsed after considerable advance
had been made by the Franco-Ameri-
cans.
The doughboys did not bulge an inch
from their new lines.
The enemy's hold was broken by the
capture of Blanemont, which was TAX
en- with surprising rapidity. The Fran
co-American artillery laid down bar
rage on the road leading toward Blanc
mont all Thursday night. Behind this
the infantry moved up to its jumping
off positions. Even the hospitals were
moved forward.
One hospital unit which has been un-
der she'll fire for three days, but whose
position became safe again through re-
moval of the German artillery asked to
be allowed to 60 forward so as to en-
able quicker handling of the wound
ed. The capture of Blancmont was Oh
similar Importance in this immediate
area, as the fall Of Mont Faucon was
in the Yerdun region. These are two
important key positions which have
been taken by the Americans within
week.
Break Grip on Rheims
The Germans four year grip on
Rheims is now being shaken by the al
lies west and east Of the city.
| stood on a height just back Of the
front and saw the Franco-Ameriean
barrage rolling up great clouds Of chalk
dust as it shattered its way ahead OF
the advancing doughboys, in contanu'
ance of the attack which started early
in the mornirS.
1t was like fighting across a west
ern prairie. There was scarcely tree
in sight over the vast stretches OF flat
plateau, with only dominating rise
here and there to break the monotony
of the terrain. The attack swung for
ward in q northwesterly direction thus
pinching in the salient about Rheims.
Every step forward rendered the boche
position about the city more ditficuit
In conjunction with General Berthe
lots attack on the west, it is opening
the way to freeing the city from ar
tillery fire.
The American attack was highly
spectacular. 1t resulted in denerai
Gouraud sending his personal congrat,
ulations to the American divlslonal
commander.
One Man Captured SO
The French had taken a position
known as HElba trench. )"
With the crash of the opening Of tne
barrage, the infantry jumped OFF. Ihelr
confidence in the artillery was so
great that one officer said "the men
lust leaned against the barrage'
The first positions were quickly
crossed Further on. numerous pill pox-
% wore encountered. French tanks as
sisted in cleaning up some OF thesc. ~
other instances the pill boxes were
smothered with smoke bombs, the Am
orleans then closing in with their payo
nets. oont,r.
eorporal Of famous unit captur,
cd IL Officers, including major ana
o6 men in one dugout. The major, yho
was in command Of an artillery group,
woa greatly downcast when brought
TO the rear. He and all the other III HI
GERS wore iron crosses Of the first Grass
The corporal was approaching ING
entrance of a dugout when the Iifso
hocbe came out. The doughboy quickly
covered and disarmed him. lie theh
rushed for the other entrance anu en-
countercd an officer CHING OUT, with a
revolver in his hand. The corporal de'
manded his surrender, adding that he
had better tell all the others inside TO
surrender, as he was about 10 unload
all his grenades in the dugout. Ihey
complied and the corporal marched
them back to the rear.
Have Downhill Fighting
With the capture Of Blancmint the
Americans now have dounbill fighting
all the way to the Aisne. The ridge
over which they passed was the enc,
my = stronghold in this region.
The wonderful comradeship OF the
French and Americans was again DEM
Ionstrated in this fighting.
American motorcycle drivers dasned
by carving French officers in the SIDE
ears and vice versa. Ambulances hast
ening to the rear carried French ahu
Americans alike.
Overhead was the familiar ribbon
ing in the sky by French and Amer
can shells. An American rolling kiteh
en- served poilus and doughboys'
Late in the evening the scene was
almost dramatic. The flash of guns
pierced tho horizon TO the northwaro
silhouetting men, guns and horses as
they moved forward across the pia
teaus, while to the westward. blood
red sun sank slowly over Rheims. Ih'