The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1918-11-07
BY Edwin L. James.

WIFI the american ARMY, NOV. e.
Is p. m.)-The first American Army
has broken through the German line
north of Verdun and is pursuing the
retreating Third and Fifth German
Armies. On u left the Fourth
French Army is pursuing the enemy.
Crashing through the Freya line on
a wide front, the Americans today
captured Champigneulle and dashed
to ~Thenorgues and then by storm took
the important railroad center-atg +ia-
ancy, captured Fosse, Barricourt, Dun
and Doulcon.
Retreating Huns Outrun Pursuers
Our line has pushed beyond those
places, and We have at many points
lost contact with the ~retreating Huns.
Late today our Doughboys have out
run communication, and bad weather
makes aerial observation impossible.
For that reason l can get no exact
information at this hour as to where
our front line is.
The Germans have withdrawn five
Austrian divisions before the Second
American Army. These 10000 men
are reported being entrained for Aus
tria.
The Germans put up a stiff fight at
two places today, Buzancy and Cherry
lie Petit, over near the Meuse river.
On our left, where the Germans put
up such bitter fighting yesterday, he
had gotten out during the night ex-
cept for weak rearguards, and when
we started forward along the east
edge of the forest of Boult early today
it was like child's play, compared with
what our men have been through the
last five weeks.
Pursuers Lose Contact With Foe
The rearguards were soon rounded
up, and by 8 a m. there was no resist
lnce worth speaking Of up to Don.
Early il the afternoon we lost con
tact and commanders SEN a hurry
call for as many big trucks as could
be spared. These trucks were rushed
up over crowded roads and arrived
about 3 p. m. They were at once load
ed with Doughboys and started north
after the %retreating Germans. Last
reports say they have not overtaken
the Germans. Their joy ride, of
course, is limited by difficulties in get
ting up supplies and ammunition over
roads made wretched by rain today.
Surely, few stories Of the war are
more picturesque than that Of a half
hundred big American trucks with
four Doughboys with ready rifles
perched on hoods, machine gun
mounted above the drivers head, fill
ed with fighting men on tiptoe for a
scrap. roaring northward on a grand
hunt for the Huns.
Germans Worn Out by Long Fight
Only the barest details of their ex-
plot is available, but this report from
their commander may be given:
Moving infantry in trucks after re-
treating enemy, but haven't o~vertaken
him"
Today we have taken a large num-
Der OF prisoners and guns of all cali
bers.. What has happened is that the
German armies have been worn down
in a bitter battle the last five weeks
in which the Americans inflicted more
than 100, 900 casulties. including 3d.
900 unwounded prisoners.
After three weeks Of gruelling war
fare. we hit the German lines strong
yesterday and met the strongest re-
sistance the boche could put up. 1t is
evident that when we began the in
tense artillery preparation today, the
Germans gave up the job of holding
the line and got out of u way. The
Americans then reaped the fruits OF
the bitter but un~sensational battle OF
the last month or more.
u. s. Advance Beats Expectations
It was our plan today TO bring our
right and especially u left to the
approximate line Of Boyonville. Our
center corps turned to aid the left
wing, only t. find the left sweeping
ahead. Commands were hurriedly
changed, and the center turned about
to the north.
Our left swept on through Cham
pigneulle, through Bots des Loges,
which had been taken and lost seven
times, and with the center corps sur