The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-07-18
PASS DETECTIVES
Yanks Went Over the Top
With a Cheer.
Infantry Attacked Without Any
Artillery Preparation.

With the American Army in France.
July 18.-Amerlcan storm troops in
large numbers launched, in co,Opera-
ton with the French a powerful Of
fensive on the line to the north of
Chateau Thierry this morning.
The Americans passed beyond near
ly all their detectives, including the
Paris-Soissons road. The town of
scissors is now well within the range
of the American guns.
Over the Top With a Cheer.
(By the Associated Press.)
With the American Army in France,
July 1S.-American troops went over
the top with a cheer this morning in
the launching of the allied surprise at
tack on the front northwest of Cha
teau Thierry.
The Americans advanced behind a
terrific barrage to their first objec-
tives in less than half an hour. While
they were digging in. more Americans
in most cases passed over the first
detectives and then advanced behind
the resumed barrage to the second OBJ
jectives which were speedily taken,
especially at the north end of the at
tack opposite the Paris-Soissons road.
Numerous tanks participated in the
offensive.
Without Artillery Preparation.
The American infantry went into
attack without previous artillery prep
aration. In their advance behind the
rolling barrage they captured many
ments and material.
The Germans in most places offered
feeble resistance but here and there
they put up a stubborn fight which
the American shock units quickly
overcame at the point of the bayonet
and at the muzzles of their weapons.
The towns of Torcy, and Givry and
the Givry Wood were taken by the
Americans in their advance.
Counter Attacks Broke Down.
Hastily organized counter attacks
against the Americans developed here
and there but all were broken up and
our troops continued to advance.
In one town along the southern part
of the front under attack the Franco
American forces captured eighteen
guns.
The final detectives in the Givry
and Torcy sector were reached in
about two hours of hard fighting.
The troops on this part of the front
did equally as well as those on the
front further north, taking quantities
of material and prisoners, who con-
tinue struggling back.
Broke Down Resistance.
Probably the most stubborn resist
ance to the allied advance developed
in the region west of Chaubun which
of scissors. The Americans and
French fighting side by side. how
ever, refused to be checked. The
American machine guns moved the
enemy down and then our troops went
on.
The fighting still continued in this
region this afternoon and seems likely
to become heavier when the German
reserves arrive.
In the region of scissors. where the
attack was especially successful, the
Americans carried everything before
them by storm. Early this Afternoon
they had passed their final known OBJ
Jective. From the second to the third
objective the. swept behind a third
barrage.
The second detectives were usually
taken by the troops of the first units
who had dug in at the first detectives.
The resistance to the south was es-
pecially vicious. At some places the
American advancing troops were held
up. but only temporarily.