The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-05-29
AMERICANS have
FOUGHT and WON
IN GREAT BATTLE
Capture of Cantigny Greatest
Action of Yankees.
Operation Lasted Only Forty
Five Minutes.
Went THRU HUN SECOND LINE
On Front of Over a Mile the
Americans Charged.
"Got EN- on the Rum" Says .
Happy Lieutenant.
ALL HUN COUNTERS REPULS LSED
American Loss Practically
Nothing, Is Report.
ssBetter Than Football" Says q
Participant.
On Front of Over q Mile the
Americans Charged.
"GOt EN- on the Rum" Says .
Happy Lieutenant.
ALL HUN COUNTERS REPULSED
American Loss Practically
Nothing, Is Report.
sBetter Than Football" Says q
Participant.

Paris May 29-American troops to
the west of Mont Didier, the French
statement says, have repulsed two
German counter attacks against the
village of .Cantigny.
Washington, May 29.-The largest
action in which Americans have par
ticipated as a unit has occurred at
Cantigny, near Mont Didier, IN Pi-
cardy. Troops which have been in
that sector for some time covered
themselves with glory, capturing near
ly 200 boche prisoners and inflicted
heavy losses in German dead and
wounded without themselves suffering
greatly.
This record of achievement is Off
cially reported by General Pershing.
The engagement bears therearfnarks
of being especially sharp. but the
Americans, as ever. gave good account
of themselves.
The front covered-one and one
quarter miles-was the largest stretch
on which successful offensive opera
ton has been carried out by Ameri-
cans to date. Cantigny was seized and
despite vicious German counter-at-
tacks was firmly held.
Active artillerying was reported in
the Woevre and Lorraine. Another
German plane has been bagged. -
Americans Have New Line.
(By the Associated PressJ -
With the American Army in France
Tuesday, May 28.-The new American
line now runs $50 to 200 yards east of
Cantigny as a result of the successful;
attack today. The nearest German
trench is several hundred yards east
of where 'the Americans have dug in
The Germans, Vt has been found had
many outposts and machine gun en-
placements in Cantigny.
Americas first offensive blow was
struck in mist. The French tanks
apparently did not have much to do
as the American artillery already had
prepared the way. A bright sun came
up and shone on the Americans as
they dug in at their new positions.
As the Americans started out across
No Mans Land there were MANY
jokes about "eating boche for break
fast. The Americans fought as tho
they were veterans and there was no
hesitation when the officers sprang
forward and shouted: Come on
boys!"
Several officers describing the
scene agreed that the outstanding fea-
ture in their minds was the wonder.
full morale of the men and their abso-
lutte confidence in themselves. The
Germans poured machine gun bullets
all around the Americans as they were
digging in, but no attention was maid
to them, as jokes and quips were
handed back and forth.
They All Liked 1t.
The demeanor of the men wounded
in action was found similarly cheerful
when the correspondent visited ths
filed hospitals this afternoon. He saw
stretched out on their cots a uurnher
of these Americans, for the mos. ne n
only slightly wounded. who acted like
school boys returned from a great
| day OF sport, smoking cigarets. eager.
ly relating their personal experiences
and laughing loudly at the humorous
| Lieut.. George e. Butler. formerly
an attorney in Indianapolis. who WAS
| slightly wounded in the leg. said that
1 going over the top was like maneuv.
er IN the training camp back home.
| The men were eager for 1t, he said.
and some of them remained up in the
trenches all night talking about the
! approaching adventure with cheerful
anticipations
| when we reached Cantfgny." h>
| added. lit was only a pile or brickS
and stones. Our artillery had leveIled
| the town. The German machine 9,1n
bullets were buzzing about like bumbio
| bees. but our fellows did not paw anv
more attention to thm than il they
had been confetti.
/ Not a Single Hitch.
1T was the finest example of team
work 1 ever saw. There was not .
hitch anywhere. The men cracke6
| jokes and sung. but they were buGi-
1 nesslike in their work"
| Lieut.. Albert E. Billings OF Brook
/ lyn, N Y, who also was slightly
wounded. was brought to the hospital
and placed on cot adjoining that of
Lieutenant Butler. AS soon as their
4 eyes met they clasped hands and
greeted each other like long lost
brothers
1T was great show, was It not =.
j Billings said: Gee, 1 wish the folkS
! Continued on Page Two.)