The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-10-25
YANKEES GAIN
MILE IN DRIVE
Several Forest Positions Are
Taken in Battle East
Of Meuse.
GERMAN NERVES SHAKEN
Artillery and Machine Guns
Active, Especially in Grand
Pre- Region.
GERMAN NERVES SHAKEN
BY the Associated Press.

WEST VI tEHDUN, oct. Zf.-ln n local
attack east Of the Meuse the Americans
to-day advanced almost a mile on about
a three mile 'front.' and the Bois Bull
truy. the Bois de Houppy and the Bois
dc Belleu are within the American lines.
as also IL . part OF the Bois de Wav-
rille and Piayon de Traye.
The advance was made after brie.
artillery preparation. The enemy's re-
sponse, was principally with machine
guns. but during the fighting he shellec
the back areas and threw a few sin inch
shells into Verdun.
Much Artillery Activity.
The artillery on both sides was active
over the entire American front to-day.
The Germans were unusually nervous
owing to the activity OF the Americans on
both sides Of the Meuse.
Early this morning the American artil-
lery laid down bsrrage north Of
Bantheville. where the infantry occu-
pied Grande Carre Farm and the Ridge
north of Bantheville. straddling the
F'reya line.
Twenty-seven prisoners were taken
when the Americans occupied Hill 271.
and east of the Meuse fourteen Germans
surrendered and a number of others were
captured in the woods. Twelve prison.
ers were taken in the Grande Carre Farm
and twenty-three southeast OF Aincre-
Vile.
From Ciery-le-Grand the Germans are
making a stand with numerous machine
gun nests. The Americans. from the
series of hills. command the valley and
the creek, from part of which the Ger
mans have withdrawn
Late Thursday the German artillery
stiffened its lighter calibre shelling Of
the American positions on Grande Farm
and it's vicinity. During the afternoon
shells a minute into Aincrcville, think
ing the Americans were there but the
place was No Mans Land.
Gas shells Thrown.
In the region of Grand Pre- the ex-
change of machine gun and artillery fire
was vigorous, but the Americans stuck
at their task Of consolidating positions
despite the attempts of the Germans to
oust them. The Germans repeatedly
threw gas shells in the region of Grand
Pre- and heavily shelled Marcq. St Ju-
Wan and other points.
One prisoner taken Thursday came
from a German division which pre-
Viously had not been identified as op-
Grating on this front.
Four American aviators OF the six
reported missing as a result OF Wednes-
days operations have been located
within tho American lines. two OF them
having been compelled TO land owing to
motor trouble. The other two lost their
way back home and reported to-day.
Just before dark Wednesday Lieut.
Eddie Rlckenbacher went out alone. as
usual, and encountered two German ma
chimes. He downed one OF them after
a short fight Lieut.. Jacques Swaab.
New York. Is credited with having
downed a Fokker machine in flames and
TO have sent down a biplane out OF con-
troll Both victories were achieved
Wednesday. Lieut. David Backus. st.
Paul. is credited with two Fokkers and
one biplane In the fighting Wednesday.
The same day Lieut. Raymond Sewers.
Minneapolis, downed a Fokker In flames.
Lieut. Il. II. Kelton, Boston. Wednes-
day night northwest OF st. Mihiel, had q
fight with five German night road
strafers." Aided by ground searchlights
Kelton fired several rounds OF machine
cartridges at the enemy. but they
lodged the searchlights, and It is be-
lieved all OF them escaped. In an ex-
change OF shots with three OF the Ger
man machines Kelton was not wounded