The sun., 1918-10-24
AMERICANSIN
HARD FIGHTING
TGRANDPRE
Bantheville and Heights
Captured and Brieuelles
Cleared of Enemy.
YANKEES GAIN ON RIDGES
Repeated Counter Attacks by
Germans in Wood Posi-
tiOns Repulsed.
YANKEES GAIN ON RIDGES
By the Associated Press.


WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY NORTH
WEST OF vERDrS. Oct. 23.-The Ameri-
cans are fighting tonight north Of
Bantheville. Hill POT. Hill 297 and
Hill PSI, Bantheville having changed
hands several times In the last few
days. Brieulles also has been cleared
Of the enemy.
Hill 2S1 has been the scene of Sc
we're fighting for four days, the Ger
mans having numerous machine gun
nests on Its summit. The capture Of
this hill gives the Americans COM
mand Of Clery lie Grand and the
valley along the Landon river.
The stiffest fighting Of the Ameri-
can offensive west of the Meuse was
under way to-day. The line Is sway
ing back and forth.
The American troops captured the
Belle Joyeuse and Talma farms and
the ridge between them after an all
day fight to-day. These positions are
situated northeast OF Grand Pre-.
Early Wednesday the Americans
,eunched an attack with the determi
nation Of cleaning up Grand Pre- an
nat region. This was accomplished
but the Germans counter attacking
drove back the Americans at places.
The Americans later regained their
ground and advanced despite desper-
ate machine gun defence. The Ger
man losses in dead and wounded were
heavy.
Many Counter Attacks Repulsed.
An early morning mist and smoke
screen assisted the Americans, who
advanced for a distance of about two
thirds Of a mile at certain points and
gained positions Of advantage. includ-
Ing ridges on either side of Grand Pre-.
During the day the Americans took
zoe prisoners. and others are now COM
ing in.
The Germans are using for the most
part machine guns and light field ar
t!!lery. with plenty Of gas. The enemy
machine gun nests were pounded all
day by the American artillery and by
bombing machines. but the Germans
apparently had dug in against shells.
western end of the front. the Ameri-
cans threw back repeated violent Ger
man counter attacks.
On the northern edge OF Grand Pre-
the Americans captured fifty-two pris-
oners. including three officers. They
also took eight enemy machine guns.
with their backs to a great series OF
woods. the Bois de Bas and the Bois
de Bourgogne included. the Germans
are fighting for their lives. Prisoners
assert that the woods are literally full
of machine guns and guns Of heavier
calibre, and these prisoners have ex-
pressed the opinion that the Ameri-
cans never can capture Bourgogne and
the woods to the northwest.
"Kamerad" Trick Fails.
The american troops fought all
Wednesday in the face OF machine gun
fire from Talma Farm to Hill 22o. north
west OF Grand Pre-. Upon the slopes to
the north OF Grand Pre- the German ma
chine gun nests extended from Hill 204
to Belle Joyeuse Farm.
North Of Camp!gneulle several light
attacks by the Germans were repulsed.
In one instance some Germans were
wounded and two were captured. These
men came forward calling 'Kamerad -
Then opened fre with rifles which had
been strapped upon their backs. Light
forces OF infantry attacked Immediately
afterward, when the Americans refused
to rush forward in response to the
kamerad trick
Along the same part Of the front the
Germans are using light rolling ma
chine guns, moving from place to place.
particularly at night, with the object
OF concealing the positions OF their
heavy guns. The German heavy artillery
shelled Sommerance and other towns In
that section. and as far as the Meuse
drenched the woods within the Ameri-
can lines with gas at Intervals.
Attack by 100 Airplanes.
American bombing airplanes and
aerial machine gunners were busy to-
day IN checking German troop move
ments toward the fighting front At
midday two squadrons OF bombers at
tackled Buzancy with excellent results
Later about l20 machines attacked
enemy troop concentrations in the woods
In the region OF Remonville.
The attack on Buzancy was In re-
Continued on Second Page.
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