El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-10-05
.YANK5 MENACE
VITAL FOE LINE
Push the Germans Back In
a Steady Drive
Forward.
CONTINUED From Page One1

FORWARD.
CONTINUED From Page One.l
and LeCatelet- Gen. March added that
no reports had been received TO show
what American troops had been cut
off and later rescued in the St Ouen-
tin operation, as stated in press re-
ports. It was to be assumed. however.
he said, that this unit belonged to the
27th division
18th Not Engaged
OF the 30th division, Gen. March said
the artillery brigade was not attached
TO the saith division kansas, Missouri.
South Dakota. Nebraska Colorado.
New Mexico and Arizona trOops) and
was not engaged near St quentin
with the infantry. The 18th division
New York national army. which
took its place on the Nesle line late
in August. Gen March said, partici-
pated IN the advance TO the Aisne be
tween August 4 and "A. The SSth d.
vision (wesetrn Illinois. Nebraska.
Iowa and South DakOta), has not yet
been reported in action. he continued.
and its permanent commander has not
been named. Brig. Cen ". D. Beach
is in temporary command.
35th Division In Drives
Inc " at NElleAA -A-4NAA+ AAaAa AAA NAN"-A--ArH
information as to the divisions en-
gagged in the drive by the American
first army west OF the Mouse, but Cen
March thought it probable that the
35th division (Missouri and Kansas
national cuard) was in this action.
The S9th division. he said. last re
ported ON the St Mihiel sector ana
the SSth in training in an American
area The 33rd illinois national
guard) was reported near Nerdun on
September Il. and the SD Georgia
Alabama. Florida and Tennessee
troops on the line in the Woeyre
sector.
Gen. johnson TO Fremont.
The asst gumenI Of Brig Gen Hugh
Johnson. formerly. executive officer Of
the provost marshal general and Cen
CroWder's chief assistant during the
first draft, TO command brigade OF
the eighth division at Camp Fremont,
Calf. was announced today. The ap-
pointment is in line with the policy
OF the war department TO give line Of
ficers. who have been held in Wash
ington a special service. a chance 70
get TO the front with troops as early
as possible.
German Raid Fails
With TIE American Army In Lor-
raine, Oct. g. associated Pressl--
After q 30 minute barrage. the Ger
mans last night attempted TO rald
the American line east Of Gerard
mere. in Lorraine. with strong
party The attack was total falI-
ure-
The German party comprised ov
men and every member of il who
reached the American lines was either
killed or captured Five wounded
prisoners remained in the hands OF
the Americans
(Gerardmere is southeast Of Epinal
) q
border C posite Colmar, Alsace-)
Tanks Down Five Planes.
With American Northwest OF YER
dun. Oct 81 ASSOCIATED Press) - ust
before uightfall. eight American pur-
suit airplanes encountered more than
Is enemy machines beyond the lines
while on a ballO-l shooting eNpedi-
ton. The Americans had accom-
ulished their mission when they ran
into the big sQuadro of German air
planes. A fight followed, which lasted
more than - minutes. but when IL
was concluded. five Of the enemy
planes v-re downed and all but one
OF the American squadron was On It's
way home safe.
Tanks Meet Resistance.
In the attack made yesterday east
Of the Argonne forest. the troops
holding the middle Of the American
sistance during the day.
The Americans advanced by a ter
rifle barrage. This bombardment Of
the enemy lines began at $3.50 o'clock,
- shells falling each minute along
the German lines This was gradually
increased to 50 a minute at 6:35
o'clock
Americans Drive Hard.
The American fire had hardly be-
gun 10 slacken, when the German bat
teries began to speak and the enemy
machine guns commenced TO impede
the advance Of the Americans New
ertheless. the troops in the center
moved steadily ahead They fought
their way through Cierges, which
they had shared for several days with
the enemy. and before noon had driven
the Germans out Of Gesnes.
In front Of ROMANCE lies the strong
est German line in this sector. It Is a
long. intricate trench system. which
is built on cUrving line so that each
end Of il enfilades any force that at
tacks another position The American
troops on the left kept in perfect
touch with the center and rapidly
cleaned up Exermont and Chehery and
captured Fleville. BY noon. they had
mopped up La Viergette and Melin
lll DO. as well as the Grange farm
They had also taken hill No. 24O. This
advance had been Just as rapid as
that Of the troops farther east, not
withstanding the fact that they went
over the top at $50 without any artil-
lery. preparation ana nanoed the Ger
mans a big surprise.
Tanks Sent Into Fight.
Just south of Chehery. the general
advance was slowed up by a German
counter attack and the American
tanks had to be sent for TO drive the
enemy back
The Germans have deliberately set
fire to the villages Of Romagne,
Gesnes, Cornay. Bantheville Chevie-
ries. St Juvin and Marco. Shells from
American guns fell think along the
front and ammunition dumps every
where were exploded when the shells
reached them.
on the center Of the line fell the
bulk of the work. It was here that
the deepest advance Of the day had
been planned On the right. the
troops operating nOrthward along the
A1euse met with hardly any resist
ance at first and easily pushed up to
the outskirts OF Brieulles. German
artillery on the east side OF the river.
however, soon opened up an enfilad-
ing fire. which not only affected the
extreme right Of the American line.
but carried far over toward the CEN