The sun., 1918-11-18
ARGONNE BLOW BY
U. S. men DECISIVE


advance OF the Americans over the dirfi-
cult terrain.
The first phase of the action ended
October 81. during which the American
gains were not large. but they compelled
the enemy to use large number OF
divisions. which became slowly ex-
hausted and thus were unable to parry
the. hammerlng he vas receiving from
the French and British on the west.
II was bitter fighting in the woods,
brush and ravines. over n region per-
fectly registered ana plotted by the
enemy. where his guns. big ana little.
could be used with the greatest eff
ficiehcy.
In the 1.-The Thfee weeks.
The original nine american divisions
m some cases, were kept In the line
more than three consecutive weeks. The
American reserves then were thrown in
until every division not engaged on
another partof the line had been put
In action.
IL lie fact commented upon with
pride by the American commanders and
compensated by the Allies that seven
or these divisions that drove their way
through this hard action never before
mad been in an active sector, while
green troops, fresh from home, we're
poured In as replacements
The Associated Press dispatches from
day to day told what these men did {;
row the enemy slowly was pushed back
from his strongest and most vital po-
sitiors. through one defence system after
another, using his finest selected troors.
which had been withdrawn in many
Instances from other portions of the
30 h11A
which he had derisively said last spring
could not be brought to Europe, ana
IL 50 would not fight. and even II he
tried TO fight would not know how
to do 30.
when Death blow was struck.
The attack delivered the morning Of
November 1, which began the second
phase OF the Argonne battle. was the
death blow TO the German army Be
tween September 2s and October 81
enemy divisions to the number of thirty
six were identified as being opposed to
the Americans in this sector. Between
November l and November the enemy
threw in fourteen fresh divisions but
all in vain.
Fighting every foot OF the way, the
American advance averaged three miles
moro difficult, with the lines of COM
'nunications and supply daily lengthen-
Ing and alternating, while roadmakers
for the transport and other supply
ORGANIZATIONS worked day and night at
their tasks.
Day by day the offfcial communica-
tons and the telephone. even 70 the
furthest advance line. told the Ameri-
cans that for every mile the Germans
gave way before them they we're yield
ing another mile to the British and
French on the left that the American
pressure was felt like an electric current
throughout the line.
On the morning OF November 2 the
German ohicial communi alton told the
Americans they had won, because for
the frst time In the war the enemy
officially admitted that the American at
tack had effected break through. The
Americans knew that what finally hap
pened on the morning OF November II.
when the armistice was signed, was only
q question OF days
Last Monday morning the General
commanding a certain division was
called to the telephone In far ad-
vanced positsoa ard asked ssif he had
understood that hosttiities were to have
ceased at II o'clock in the morning.
Yes" replied the General II did.
But at 1o:5s we were going like hell"