The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-10-03
YANKEES UNDER
HOTTEST FIRING
Germans Expected Heavy At
tack and Sought to Off,
set Same.
MET SEVERE PUNISHMENT
Electric Power Station at Va
\ rannes, Valued at $4,000,
S Captured.
MET SEVERE PUNISHMENT II

pannes, Valued at $40, 900,
Sl Captured.
with the American Army Northwest
OF yerdun. Wednesday. Oct ga. Po
--Violont artillery firing developed
aldu,w the center of the American line
hekv34en the Mouse and the Aisne to-
dav{S The Germans also bombarded
the american positions on the right,
ne1Ar. the Meuse, to a limited extent,
k.ton the extreme left there was a
hifcant silence for the greater part
ythe day.
3AionS this sector OF the front the
s}oaltfons held by the Americans fol.
i6k q xigxag line. The number of
yGermans near the Argonne forest Is
M than that fighting on the eastern
ade. Gen. Gouraud's drive west OF the
fprest, together with the advance of
tho Americans to the east of 1t, threat
ems to cut off the enemy units still
Gipging to the wooded hills south OF
Grand Pre-.
4 No general offensive was undertaken
by the Americans today. All along the
line lighting was restricted to patrol
tactions. 1t has been learned that the
Neneiny expected n heavy attack today
Ind TO that fact Is attributed his heavy
tartiilery fire. This fire was particu-
1arly heavy, gas and high explosives
and shrapnel shells being used. They
were fred both from In front of the
Americans and from across the Meuse.
Not only lwere the forward positions
bombarded. hut many shells fell on
Driliancourt. Hareourt and the country
between Jure wood and the river.
Punished Hun Severely.
kt,,,oc ttio Arc took np tho char
acter OF barrage. but 1t was concen-
trated. for the most part. on the fight
ing line. 1t was shifted during the
day to the center Of the line and later
moved far to the right. Forges being
savagely shelled until counter battery
work decreased the volume of fire. The
Americans have responded with Wig
orous fire which punished the enemy
severely. At various points minor in
fnntry clashes occurred, both sides US
Ing machine guns.
All day the sky was very cloudy
and aviators we're hampercd in their
work. This forced the armies to work
without material assistance from the
observers. At one point the Germans
succeeded In getting airplanes across
the line. Smoke bombs were dropped.
Indicating American positions to the
enemy gunners. One enemy machine
was brought down by anti i-aircraft
8pns while pursuit planes accounted
I q ethsEs one AmsIiean ayiatSt 1,.. at. At:
%ay out. SringinsA down one enemy
machine.
According to the calculation Of one
airman. 1t Is shown that in 1916 oilots
In the aviation section of the, allied
armies few an aggregate of 124.G00
miles. In September of this year one
squadron alone flew for an aggregate
Of 4,719 hours over the lines and COW
cred a total of 100000 miles. This
does not include numerous trial flights.
Although last night was frosty and
the American soldiers were chilel.
tired and wet. they displayed keen
spirit all along the line. In every
trench they were as full Of energy and
determination as on the first day of
the battle.
Engineer battalions have done good
work on the roads. Commissary trains
are moving forward steadily ami ra-
tons are reaching the men in the most
advanced positions.
Anticipating sharp fall weather. the
staff ordered sleeveless leather coats
issued to the greater part of the men
at the front. These coats are lined with
felt and are worn over the uniforms.
They keen out the wind and turn the
rain. They have proved to he one of
the most popular articles of wear with
the men.
The spirit of the men In this battle
is demonstrated by that shown by
those in the Argonne forest. This is
the last nlace in the battle area to drv
ont and is alwavs gloomy in the depth
Of the wood. Fighting has gone on
there with the same stuhhornness
which characterized the first dav's ef-
fort. Machine gunners were left be-
hind hy the Germans to defend the
main body and there has been some
great rough and tumble fighting In the
forest
Much booty has fallen into the hands
of the Americans. including an electric
power station at Varennes. II Is esti-
mated that it must have cost $40 600
to equiv this plant with water power
The Germans left so hnrriedIv that
thev did not damage the machinery
and the Americans are using It, A<,cr-
leans arc also utilizing miIos OF tele-
nhone wire and some central EXCHANGE
material which has been left in posi-
tion by tho retiring enerov.
The latost summary of the material
canturcd shows 100 guns Of all cali
hers. 7E0 trench wortars. 200 machine
guns. 100 antitank Guns. thousands Of
shells and hundreds Of thousands OF
roNnds Of small arm ammunition.
East Of Verdun and about Douau-
mont there was heavy shcII fire
maintained nv the enemy TODAY. In
a minor engagement in the woovrc
sector American forces captured thirty
prisoners.