The Washington times., 1918-08-30

ahSSE AN1oSA anu uuoOupNculy mas
fexpected the assault for some time
The fighting here is over ground
which has been a battlefield since
1914. 1t contains a series Of great
plateaus, with an extensive cave and
a network of old trench systems. We
are fighting in consequence, q curl
Gus mixture of open and old trench
warfare, the latter requiring strong
artillery preparation.
Today's operation carried the
French and Americans forward, but
the fighting Is of a nature far dif-
ferent from that encountered in the
recent rush from the Marne, when
the Americans marched for miles
without encountering q German
Every foot OF the Chavigny-Mavigny
region is contested.
Arrogant to Last.
The famous Prussian seventh regi-
ment is opposing the Americans
Prisoners taken are typically Prus-
sian. Some are unusually arrogant
When one officer was asked where
he came from. he came to attention.
pulled himself to his full height and
answered dehantly, "Prussia!"
There are instances OF q lone Amer
lean picking up several Prussians. A
sergeant from Wisconsin ran upon
four ehplaced in a shell hole All
surrendered. The sergeant marched
them to the rear. One of them said
the German soldiers are being fairly
well fed, the physical condition of
boys under twenty-one receiving spe-
I cial attention. They are given extra
| bread rations.
1t was an ideal day for q battle. It
was clear and cool, but a ground haze
obscured movements in the early
morning. Later the sun penetrated
the mist, unfolding a remarkable
picture-a vast field of moving men
and war equipment These plateaus
are remarkable for a constant sill
houette view given to moving men,
guns and horses. Sharp dips and
rises here and there cause the groups
to be thrown into sharp relief, sug-
gesting a series Of living Remington
drawings.
Praise For Tanks.
The Americans Enthusiastically
praise the work OF the tanks in clean
ing up trenches and machine gun
nests, and breaking through wire en-,
tanglsments.l One tank placed itself
across 4 short trench, enfiladfnR ana
driving out the boche. The dourh-
boys said they didn't see how the
tank was going to get Off, but n
climbed on across without any trou-
BILE.
When the Americans encountered
several strings of caves. into which
the Boche had burrowed, they used
great numbers Of grenadcs with tell
ing effect.
From the heights where the Amer
leans and French are fighting, the
spires OF scissors Cathedral are Wis
ibIe.
1t Is now permissible to describe
the arrival of the Americans in this
part of the battle front. ThrouEhout
tuesday, Tuesday night and Wednes-
DAY, American men, guns, and wagons
wound up roads through valleys
which connected vast plateaus They
passed over ground conquered by the
first and second divisions when the
Americans first fought in the Sois-
sons region.
STRAINS Of PriEonera.
Late Wednesday, just as the news
Of the repulse OF a German counter
attack came in, saw an entire Amer
lean battery silhouetteG -sains: the
dark sky, the men lashing their horses
peak OF a long rise. Meantime, in
fantry and machine Gunners were
moving along the roads and across
the fields
The movement in conjunction with
the French was carried out without
great initial resistance. The Ameri- |
cans advanced their line slightly !
across the plateau. which was deeply !
pitted with shell craters.
In a wire cage at the rear prisoners !
were being gathered in an almost |
endless stream.
The Americans now in this region |
have particularly distinguished them |
selves. They were moved from a dis |
tant area on short notice. The artil- /
lery and other units traysied night and |
day, arriving on scheduled time.
wsuaded Are Cheerful.
Abandoned boche strongholds have
been encountered everywhere. They
include deep dugouts. pill boxes,- and
trench and wire systemS The villages
have been entirely wiped out. and no
more than an occasional skeleton OF n
tree can be seen anywhere on tho shat
tered plateaus.
The wounded are extremely cheerful.
They are cared for in dressing stations
safely located in the depths Of caves.
They said they suffered more from the
cold at night, waiting for the attack,
than during the fight.
The rain all Wednesday night chilled
the men to the utmost. out It. did not
affect their spirits, and they said they
were glad to attack when they go: up
IN the morning.
The sky swarmed with airplanes
during the day. One boche eluded the
French patrols and shot down two
observation balloons in rapid success
sion. As the sausages were still fall
ing In flames, the boche darted back
toward his lines, with French planes
in pursuit. But he got away.
The artillery fire slackened in the
rear areas at midday and concen-
trated on the front lines, but at night
the entire front echoed to the roaring
and pounding of guns on both sides.
There was infantry combats through
out the day. In many instances
American patrols penetrated beyond
the main German line and brought