Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-11-07
SEDAN WITHIN GUN
RANGE Of US. ARMY
YANKs WITHIN SIGHT OF 1870
BATTL EFlEL ONE
OF THE MOST DARING FEATS
OF THE WAR.

ternoon were fighting within sight Of
Sedan. famous for the great battle
fought in the Franco-German war in
1870.
From the hills in the region Of Che
merry and Maisoneelle, where the
Americans, according to last accounts,
were advancing despite stubborn re-
sistance. the buildings Of Sedan are IN
plain view, being about six miles
away.
German resistance has stiftened
considerably The Germans are using
artillery, gas and machine guns.
Dun's Capture Gallant Feat
The crossing Of the River Mouse
and the capture of the town OF Dun
by the Americans, when its full de-
tails are known, will rank as one of
the most gallant feats of the entire
operations northwest of Verdun The
troops who accomplished it will be
entitled to rank as heroes. Their
military achievement in crossing the
stream was a strategic move Of I'M
usual daring.
The crossing involved the forcing
Of way over the 160-foot river a
half mile wide stretch Of mud and a
G0-foot canal in the face of frlghtful
enemy fire.
II also involved swimming by those
who knew how and the pulling of 9th
ers over ropes Graphing irons wtie
used to scale the sheer walls Of the
canal, along which machine gunners
had been posted, under the fire Of
scores Of batteries from the hills ad.
toinlng.
None Waiver in Daring Task.
The order to cross the canal came
at midaftenoon Monday. The troops
received their grim instructions under
a sun which was shining for the first
time in days The men knew almost
as well as their commanders the diff.
Guilty of the task and realized how
well nigh impossible its accomplish.
ment would be.
Yet they never doubted or hesitated.
The orders were TO send over one bri
gade first, and if it failed to send an
other and others, one after the other
If il became necessary.
1t was with dash that the Amerl
cans tackled the problem. Theoret
ically they had the choice Of crossin
anywhere for five miles. Actual,
they were limited to one point, where
two-thirds Of a mile of mud lay be
tween the river and the canal that
roughly parallels the river. The Ger
mans were too firmly entrenched al
all other points.
Swimmers Lead Attackers.
They had not protected themselves
with trenches here only because they
never dreamed that the American.
would be SO daring as to try to ne
gotiate the crossing.
= This was a short distance north Oh
Breulles.
All the swimmers of the first bri
babe were first singled out and put il
the van. 1t was intended to attack il
this way on the theory that the swim
mers were less likely to be hit b,
the Germans owing to the fact tha
they would be nearly submerged.
On the other hand they could 54r-
across with them ropes and other mar
aphernalia for assisting non.swim
mers across, The building of non
toon bridges was put off until at leas
some American elements had crosse,
the river.
Notwithstanding some losses an,
the fact that the swimmers could no
defend themselves, many of thra
reached the east bank Of the rive
with lines which were drawn tan
across the stream. Others hoated q
RATS and collapsible canvas hoat,
Inese men had less success than Mn
swimmers, because they were bette
marks for the enemys rifles and IN
boats could easily be sunk by bullet
even If their occupants were not Nil
Cross First Barrier by Dark.
Close to where the swimmers cross
ed the engineers began to throw owe
pontoon boats and a tiny footbrldg,
me pontoons were destroyed by IN
enemy but The bridge remained i,
tact ana added materially to the co,
s'antly Increasing numbers Of me
arriving on the west bank of the Ri
err " -
soon after dark the first brigad
was across the first barrier and mn,
men were ready to make the iourne
me second phase of the perilor
Undertaking then began the eros
ing Of the kilometer Of mud stretc
hg between the river and the cana
winch though it was under tr
mendoos enemy fire, was not held !
infantry
me Americans stumbled across Il
mud through the whitening fir
Iheir feet sank into the mud a,
%soon 'helr pace gradually slowed to
laoorious walk Nevertheless IN,
a. got thrOuph nt4nn 10 ~ -. ~,