New-York tribune., 1918-07-10
Pershing Reports
FeW Developments
In American Section

WASHINGTON, July O. General
Pershing's communique for Monday,
received to-day, said there was moth
ing important to report from sections
of the front occupied by American
troops.
The communicate follows:
Headquarters, American Expedi-
tionary Forces, July S, 1918.
Section A-Thsre have been no
fresh Developments at the points oc
eupied by our troops.
Section BIN the sector occupied
by our troops in Picerdy there was
some brisk artillery fighting July 4
70 5. Our batteries sheIled lAlval
Wood with gas early in the night and
the enemy retalated by firing on our
front lines from the Fontaine wood
to Grivesnes and on some of our po-
sitions in the rear The German ar
tillery was particularly active between
10 p. m. and midnight, but it was
noted that its fire slackened or
ceased whenever our artillery started
counter preparation. Most of the Ger
man shells fell on the north of our
sector. The enemy's trench mortars
frequently came into action just prior
to the commencement of concentrated
fire by his artillery. His machine
guns delivered heavy bursts of fire in
the morning on the right Of our sector.
His airplanes were not usually active,
except in the dropping of bombs, a
small number of which fell on our
positions before daybreak At two
smoke and explosions indicated the
destruction OF German ammunition
dumps.
Enemy Fire Is Light
"In the Marne sector, which our
troops are holding, the activity Of the
German aerial forces was the most
significant feature of July 4 to 5.
There was slight increase in the
artillery FIRE, but it is still much less
than ours and not of great volume.
Most Of the shells used were of small
and medium calibre. The fire was for
harassing and destructive purposes.
About half of the machine gun fire
was directed against our planes.
Traffic in Rear Are AS Noted
The enemy's air forces were en-
trely abnormal in their activity,
some group flights being observed in
which eight and ten planes partici-
pated. There was an increase in the
movement Of traffic in the rear areas.
During the entire night white and
green flares were seen. These and
rockets We're in larger numbers than
usual. Two searchlights played inter
mittentiy from one part of the enc
my's sector. In this same sector con-
ditions on July 5 to 6 were in all re-
spects so normal as to offer nothing of
interest.
an the Colmar sector, July 5, ac-
tivity of the German artillery showed
some increase on portions of our front,
but did not become notably heavy at
any point. His. airplanes also distrib-
uted their activity over the sector,
dropping a few bombs at one point.
More German patrols than usual were
observed, one throwing few grenades
at our positions and another cutting
some of our wire. During the night
the German positions were lighted up
TO q greater extent than usual, mainly
by liberal use of red and white
flares. All along our front our own
patrols reconnoitred the hostile posi-
tions, but in spite of their number
and activity encountered no enemy
parties and drew no enemy fire.
in the Mulhouse sector. July s. Ger
man airpanes showed an activity
which is unusual in this region. They
crcled constantly over their advanced
positions and sometimes over ours
Our anti-aircraft batteries and num-
ber of Allied planes drove them back
en- numerous occasions. The enemy's
artillery fire was slight and widely dis
tributed. Behind the German lines, in
addition to the usual movements of
pedestrians, horsemen and vehicles, a
considerable number of infantry in a
body was observed on the march dur
ing the afternoon. A number of small
balloons. probably containing propa-
ganda, We're sent up.
German Plane Downed
IN Lorraine, July 4 to s, nothing
except the activities of our own pa
trolls called for especial mention. Our
patroliinG parties did much valuable
reconnaissance work in inspecting the
onemy's defence positions and returned
safely, although one of them came un-
der the enemy's fire. Artillery lighting
was very moderate, our batteries show
ing much greater activity than those
of the enemy. Our anti-aircraft guns
brought down German 'rlane in the
region of la Chapelle. Both pilot
and observer were killed. The German
machine guns were somewhat more
active than usual.
"In sector in the Vosges recently
occupied by our troops conditions were
normal July 5. During the night pre-
ceding German troops made two small
attacks, which were easily repulsed
The German artillery scattered its fire
over the sector, using guns of small
and occasionally of medium caibre.
The ordinary number of German air
planes and balloons performed their
customary duties. During the day red
message balloons were seen over the
German lines and at night flares and
rockets of the customary sort Our
patrols performed their usual duties
without incident"