Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-08-03
AMERICAN ADVANCE
ENCOUNTERS LITTLE
Resistance FROM ENEMY

With the American Army OF the
Aisne- Marne Front, Aug. 2.-tBy the
Associated Press).--Anotber jump for
ward was made today by the French
and Americans on the Aisne-Narne
front From one to Two miles was
gained and with almost no 6ghtng. Inc
Americans expected to ind the enemy
prepared for a bitter fight. but when
they swung northward from their posi-
tons in the line after brief artillery
preparations, TO which there was no
reply, all was silence In front of them
The skirrnish line even was abandoned
and the men were enabled TO proceed In
single file through wheat fields and
clumps OF woods such as they had
known at home. During the rarest Of
intervals there was spattering Of rife
or machine gun fire which served 10
check the line for the few minutes re-
quired to silence the enemy gunners.
The stiGest fighting by the Americans
was in q little piece of ground east Of
Chamery where, according to German
newspapers. the body of Lieut.. Quentin
Roosevelt was buried after his airplane
had been brought down early in the
present operations.
Through wheat fields and over wooded
trails soaked with rain that fell almost
all day the Americans moved slowly
and cautiously, but almost continuously
over farms and past villages. among
! them Coulonges and Cohan. To the
westward another force of Americans
also was moving steadily through and
around tie Eesies woods and the rolling
country east of the woods. To both the
east and west of that part Of the line
iie!d BY the Americans the French were
meeting with success. 1t is not antici-
! pated that the Germans will withdraw
70 the Eesle line without renewing their
rear guard resistance and it is under
stood that the present virtually unop-
posed advance vii end quickly. perhaps
with stiff fighting on the higher ground
Just south or the ArI:e in order TO give
the Germans moro time for getting their
With only slight advance in addition
, to that OF today the heavy guns of the
Allies easily will be in position to Shell
Fismes and any part Of the line the
! Germans may determine to stand on
could immediately be made unconfory-
able
Although the enemy's retreat on the
, whole has been successful and he has
; succeeded thus far in extriCatine the
German portions Of his armies from the
salient. observers have witnesses condi-
tons which they believe indicated tina :
the Germans are moving more hastily
than they desire. Huge clouds of smoke
and duh explosions have come from St
Gille, on the Arire. a short distance
south of Fismes. and other places near
err the allied front. These told of the
destruction Of big ammunition depots.
Fires also are visible a eight or 10
they had been started by the Germans
/ seems obvious, since no allied shells
have reached those places during the
day, Three enemy airp,anes were Off
cially announced as having been down
| ed today. Three other victories were
achieved and il is understood that they
will be confirmed shortly.
| American bombarding planes success
fully raided Contains Thursday night.
Lieut.. David r. Putnam Of Newton,
Mass. scored another apparent victory
ny driving down German enemy BIZ
plane, which he attacked from behind
All the shots from Lieut.. rutnan1's ma
chine gun appeared to penetrate the
enemy machine. but its destruction has
rot vet been confirmed.