The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1918-09-30
ARCONNE FIGHT
IS LIKE DUEL IN
A DARK ROOM
Machine Guns in StronghoIdS
Make Progress Slow,

AMERICAN HEADQUARTERS IN
FRANCE, Sept 30--Fishting along
the new frbnt northwest OF Verdun
has settled down TO the dreary business
to which the machine gun has reduced
modern warfare, Progress is being
measured by the laborious reduction OF
small points which are held by small
groups OF men, but able TO paraly1e
forces out OF all proportion to their
lighting value
Like Duel In Dark Room.
From dramatic viewpoint the
greatest fighting has taken place in the
Argonne forest, where Il has rcsembled
duel fought 10 the finish in dark
room The density OF the forest is
complicated by the strangeness of the
ground, which resembles nothing so
much as the backbone and ribs Of a
flat fish with the ribs on one side
shortened to half their length and the
+, backbone running north and south.
These ribs represent series OF ridges
and ravines which are almost perilous-
" steep on the eastern side, but less
abrupt and longer further west The
rayines follow each other in ceaselesS
succession along the backbone for
; about twenty-five miles To force such
position would be sufficiently diff
cult If il rad been in the enemy hands
only short time, but much harder
since he has been in possession Of II
for years,
Weeds Conceal Wires.
When the enemy had built a series
of stone mansions beneath the hillsides
and constructed approaches Of stone
lined trenches, the formidable character
OF the task may he understood But
even more formidable than the dug
outs and trenches is the wire woven
endlc0ly among the trees Hundreds
upon hundreds Of miles Of wire have
been strung, there since two years ago.
Through il have grown weeds and grass
more than three feet high, making the
obstacle more serious by conoealment.
Rescue Work Magnificent.
Through such country have the
Americans been fighting their way foot
by foot Young in years, young in eS-
perience and young in depressing dark
ness where death may be ambushed be
hind any Of the myriad trunks ~ trees
and where the rattle Of machine guns
Il multified and magniiied by the forest
Into a deafening snarl OF thunder. every
man knows how small his chances are
being seen by friendly eyes IL he should
fall. Even when the indefatlgablt
stretcher bearers find him. the task OF
getting him out from these malign sur
| roundings is one Of magnitude How
the wounded are being rescued Even
their saviors scarcely know that their
work, although eShausting i' being
magnificently performed and is winning
,fsrvent tributes
= Steady Progress IN TAngle.
Notwithstanding everything the troops
have gone through the forest. almost a'
steadily as their comrades outside.
Z Even the Germans are not completely
=, home in the bewildering complication
OF ravines and ridges.
Some Americans have actually been
captured twice and each time have been
retaken with their captor
The headway the Americans have
been making is evidently disagreea-
bic shock 10 the enemy. During yes
trday men belonging 10 a reserve divis-
100 were captured after being rushed
back az top speed TO meet the expected
American attack. Among the other
troops captured yesterday were men
from the fifth guard division. This or
ganiration had taste Of American
fghtisg capacity At Belleau wood and
recently fought In Flanders, Men oi
another reserve division which had been
: rushed hither from Mulhausen, also
we're taken.
Retirement Indicated.
Not only was yesterdays fighting. sx-
srensiy cheering, but there were indi-
rations OF considerable Withdrawals by
the enemy. showing his intention 20
shorten the line. Romagne, where Il
was expected the Germans would stand
Was reported In flames Later II be-
fame known that the enemy had evaeu-
hted Vilosnes after having blown up
un buildings with mines. The bridge
lcrow the Meuse at that point has been
llsstrcyed.