Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-08-08
FRENCH PUSH BACK GERMAN LINE
OVER 400 YARDS NORTH OF RHEIMS
YANKS CROSS VESLE

With the American Army on the
Aisne- Marine Front, Aug. 7-(By the
Associated Press)--Under an inferno
of shrapnel and much gun fire and
waves Of gas, the Americans forced
their way over the Vesle river last
night and early this morning. while
rain varying at times from a drizzle
to a downpour drenched the battle
field.
French troops already have gained
POSITIONS on the American left and
the joint movement has Strengthened
out the line from point west of
l5azoches to Fismes. The Germans
lost considerably in casualties and
also a few prisoners, whose stories
tended to corroborate the expressed
pinion OF those previously taken.
that the Germans intend to continue
their retreat until the bank of the
Aisne is reached.
The attack began between four and
FIVE o'clock Tuesday afternoon. By
midnight the men on the right had
reached their detectives, the main
highway cast and west extending
along the foothills that rise north of
the river and become a series OF ter
races to the Aisne.
The left wing was delayed, but it also
reached the line shortly before o'clock
this morning. The artilleries on both
sides are still fighting duels over the
captured positions, and the Germans
also have continued small arms resist
ance. But with every hour the posi-
tons Of both the French and Americans
have been rendered more secure. The
attack by the infantry was preceded by
artillery preparation. Under cover Of
a barrage the engineers completed the
work of throwing light bridges over the
stream while the officers chosen to ;eau
the dash across the river placed their
men in position, working downward to-
ward the points where the bridges were
known to be. The challenges were ac-
cepted Immediately by the German ar
tllery and in a few minutes the inter.
mittent reports of the guns which had
been heard all day were merged into
lifted slightly, reappeared just before
the attack was launched. and therefore
the action was conducted without much
advantage in observation bv aircra fl
| When the order for their advance wa
given. the men for the most part swept
forward in open forma ion, but the Ger
mans were ready with a defence. and
even more They had prepared, al
though appa rently hastily, a counter at
tack which they launched without sue
cess later in the engagement
The men on the American side
fought their way along the chosen
routes. Some Of them floundered
across through the water while 9TH
ers used the bridges that still were
standing
One detachment Of Germans. me
what more than company. moved
forward into the OPEN fIer, the
American machine guns caugar them
and sweeping them with bullets, de-
stroyed them almost totally. The
Germans also attempted IL, strike In ,
Americans a disconcerting counter
! blow with a considerable force bv
plunging down q
the river fhcir path had been clear.
ed by their artillery and they might
| haev succeeded in reaching the
Americans. but the movement had
| been reported to the artillery sta
tons south Of the Vesle and from
| them there swept into the advacc-
J ing columns such a mass Of Shells
that the formation was quickly br. k
en-.
; At another point detachment of Ger
mans stood until the Americans were
upon them. Then it became a hand-to-
hand conflict, the only one Of the kind
Continued on Pace 3-CoI 81