The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-09-27

IN NV - bVHHbHN
II cording to schedule the entire line
was moving tonight into positions
paralieling the line of attack,
The American troops took the
Germans somewhat by surprise by
the speed of their attack today and I
without giving the enemy time tod
recuperate they pushed him steadily 1
northward. This evening the Amer
leans between the Argonne and thaI
Mouse has reached MaIancourt. !
MOntfaucon. Cuisy. Dannevoux andA
other towns along the line.
| The example OF intrepedity set by8
the Pennsylvania, Kansas. and Mis-
souri, troops was followed by the men
in the other American units. Tha3
opposition met with at Montfaucon |
ana DanneYoux and other points in
dicated that the German resistancej
was becoming stronger and it waBd
apparent the enemy had had time TO /
place in position some of the artil- /
lery withdrawn earlier in the day. /
Late in the afternoon the German |
aerial activity increased, indicatingA
a determination to check what had
developed SO rapidly into a sweep=3
ing advance,
Tanks Play Big Part.
The work Of the tanks which wera55
manned by French and Americana
brought praise from the staff offi-i
GERS. The machines. however, vera
unable 10 display their abilities tot
the fullest extent because OF 4tsa
Doggy condition Of the terrain. Thsa
ground had been softened by recent3
rains and as the country naturally4
Is swampy, the terrain was found toll
be too soft in many places. Manyi
tanks become stalled in the mud, butt
InB Eaa
fantry had driven the enemy WE'LL
northward.
A most spectacular feature Of the
operation was the work OF the Aerial
units. The aerial observers were abla1
to accomplish little until the after
noon, but before the echoes OF thai
opening barrage had died away the4
pursuit airplanes were over the Ger~t
man lines.
The clouds made it appear inn
& probable that there would be anyt
great display by the aviators and
the fog seemed to hide the enemy.
but flying at a height of less than
700 yards the airmen swept down on
| the German troops in the line and
on the roads. Wagon trains were
attacked and dead horses and deb
rtB blocked the path OF those who
shortly afterward sought avenues Of
retreat.
As the skies cleared the observers
appeared with their fighting escorts
and aided materially in correcting
the aim Of the artillery which had
never ceased it's vigorous harassing
fire, Gas shells were used plentiful
ly by the Americans in only q few
instances but when they were used
the work was done effectively.
Gas Shells Used.
One of the places subjected to a
gas attack was Vauquois. That his /
toric place was known to be well
fortified. There was reason 10 be-
lieve that the Germans might util-i
ize the forty miles of subterranean
passages in the neighborhood. til
was flooded with gas clouds and
then enveioped by artillery fire. Gas.
also was used against certain woodss
around which the Americans after-S
ward marched.
In formation obtained only the dayi
before the attack enabled the off,
GERS Of the tank detachmenta TO es-
cape the traps constructed at sew
eraI places and also the batteries OF /
anti-tank guns.
BY mid-afternoon every division /
headquarters began to look like a
prison camp. Groups of Gernan5
prisoners from half dozen to 1905
appeared at the headquarters at in
tervals. After being lined up and
questioned they were sent into the
detention camps in the rear. For thsi
most part the captured men were
cheerful, some apparently were joy
full.
Many of the prisoners were taken i
in combat but the greater part OF /
them had been forced to take cover I
under the Enothering barrage and
had been left behind by their re-
treating companions. With them it
was a case Of appraised hands. Sew
eral officers were captured but in
this battle, as in previous engage
rear when the retirement began.
Work On Schedule.
1 Every objective was made Accord 4
ing TO schedule and in some cases /
ahead OF time. The first objective
was gained just forty minutes after
the Americans started. The French
on the left also kept up a swinging
stride.
information reaching the inteIii-
gence officers today indicated that
the Germanes had expected the at
tack to be made elseWher Allied
aviators continued busy throughout
the day behind the German lines at
| lacking various targells Several
tons Of explosives were dropped on
the town Of Dun Sur Meuse.
| Whether the Germans win make o
stand near their present line is not
known but it is not expected that
| they can continue their retirement
without suffering terrible punish
ment.
The lines from which the Germans
were forced today were excellentiy
/ prepared and it would have caused
no surprise had the enemy offered
such resistance as TO make his wieh-
| drawal question OF days instead of
| hours. Across the valley of the Airs
the enemy had lines which had TAX
en- months to prepare, but the Am
1 erican artillery and infantry forced
| the Germans to abandon them withtE
less than three hours.
The first enemy line was taka@
1 with a rush In d few minutes, tbs
il second line offered greater resiste
anee and ar the third line tine Ger
mans put up a fight that promised
to delay the advance. However, the
/ progress OF the Americans w2a
checked only briefly. One Tayine in
l the path of the attack contained
nassed machine guns which poured
a hot fire into the advancing troops
but without breaking the Line.
During "wednesday evening and
early Thursday the enemy artillery
-I-cUHtfnued To shell the regions east
1 and west of MontZeVflie but this
eRican bonbagdment began.
IL The American artillery had been
4 SO carefully placed, according to
plans that wednesday, night there
was nothing tor the artilleryulen ia
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