The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-07
NEW WORKERS LEAD
CHASE FROM VESLE
Capt. Crawford .Blagden and
Sergt. Grimes Head Scouts
Following Foe.
THEY FLED IN THE NIGHT
By Early Morning River Was
Bridged and Americans Be-
gan Pouring Toward Aisne.
~ RAYMOND G. CARROLL.

Special csble DespotcA TO tbs suS snd tie
Ps6Hc Ledger. o.
Copyright. 1918; all rights reserred.
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN FRANCE.
Sept. 6.--Coming up from the valley
watered by the Vesle River upon the
broad plateau overlooking the Aisne
Valley tho Americans, acting in con-
junction with the French. endeavored by
every means possible to overtake, sur
round and cut on the Germans forced
out Of their vssle positions by the
Franco British pressnre to the north
west and the piercing OF the old linden
burg line south Of Fresnes.
Order, method and. skill marked the
enemy's withdrawal. There were rear
guard units performing their difficult
tasks most adroitly, with mines placed
and obstacles piled up where those in
pursuit had to pass. broken bridges and
occasional counter attacks by German
machine gun detachments
For some days we had known that
the Germans were about TO withdraw
to the Aisne as TIE progressive diminu-
ton in the activity of their artillery
IRE indicated that the heavy pieces
were being evacuated, but tho going Of
the infantry was not exactly forecast
DtSGvN0H
The first news We had that they were
out came on Tuesday night from a
patrol headed by Captain Crawford
Blagden of New York city. formerly a
Harvard football player. and Sergeant
John A. Grimes. also of New York city,
who, after crossing the river and meet
ing no opposition. continued further
and climbed the hsishts overlooking
Fismette. They came upon meadows
and ridges void of Germans.
Two shells from somewhere north
ward, In the direction OF the new align
ment Of the German front. indicated
that while the German infantry had
made a sudden and rapid retreat there
was sheltering curtain OF artillery left
to lessen the vigor OF our pursuit. When
word reached our headquarters that the
Germans were or again rapid efforts
were made to harass them. our COM
manders echeloning our attacking units
one after another upon pontoon bridges
hurriedly thrown across the river In the
gray mists of early Wednesday morn
ing. only to find empty trenches. vacant
battery positions and burning ammuni-
ton dumps.
First Contact on Aisne Bluffs.
Soith't Win tne enemy was not o.
tanned until the bluffs GROWING the
Aisne valley were reached. where resist
ance was spirited and sufficiently vigor-
Gus to cause the attacking troops to wait
until they were reinforced by the ar
rival OF new elements, meanwhile dig
Einc In and preparing for a fusillade Of
shells. greetings which showed that the
German artillery was over the Aisne
River In we'll chosen positions.
There we came upon our enemy
again. profoundly Inundated by seven
weeks Of reverses. First driven back
from attempts to reach the south bank
Of the Marine, the enemy fed to the
heights back OF the Ourcq from there
he was driven back by frontal attacks
to the shelter OF the Vesle, out of which
he was pinched to his old refuge beyond
the Aisne. from which he arrogantiy
started in the early months OF this
year.
Coming across the plateau in broad
daylight, Franco American reconnoi-
tring parties trickled through the towns
and villages, many OF them strangely
spared from the havoc of she'll fire. II
is true that little Fismette and Ba-
zoches. directly upon the river bank.
are battered ruins. but much remains
standing Of Peries, BaslieuN. Rlanzy.
Merval. Baronval, Serval. CHIMES,
Vauxcere. Vauxtin. Phuixel, Breneile.
Conde-sur-Aisne and about ten other
clusters OF dwellings that dotted the
brown green mantle OF the countryside
as it unfolded after the enemy had
passed away.
Inhabitants Driven Northward.
or inhabitants there were few, the
Germans having driven them northward
along with the cattle and sheep. all OF
them except an occasional old man or
woman. Following the war there will
be hundreds OF homes in the fighting
area lost forever to their rightful own
ers. whole families having passed out OF
existence as well as the property itself.
A long month will elapse before the
rivers OF the Chlteau Thicrvy and Sois-
sons country will resume the turning of
the ancient mills while the banks are oc-
cupied by comedy women washing
clothes.
The tsbleland meadows beyond the
Fesle were a symbol OF refreshing color
that quickened the pulses OF our soldiers.
Great masses Of bluets. white da isles and
red peoples were everywhere, the ma
tional colors of France and Of the United
States. IAN the ingredients OF Old
Glory except tho stars" commented one
sentimental American officer at the end
of the days pursuit Look into the sky
for your stars" replied a tactfui liaison
officer, adding: I'VE French did not
aspire so high as you. We md our tri-
color devoid OF stars, but now We raise
our eyes with yours TO heaven in the
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