New-York tribune., 1918-11-03

mysterious signs Of the sudden giving
away of the Germans and pressed for
ward and into and past Clery ell Petit
They overcame the lingering machine
gun resistance in Barricourt Wood and
captured Villers Devant Dun. Here the
enemy launched counter attack, which
failed. Then the Americans moved
forward again and occupied Doulcon.
The total advance averages mors than
two and half miles on a fourteen
mile front, but was considerably
greater as points. Numerous prisoners
and heavy guns were taken, and the
enemy left many ammunition dumps so
hastily that thew could not be de-
stroyed.
Last Stronghold Near
To the north Of the advancing Amer
leans, who have broken through the
Germans strongest lines Of resistance,
including the Freya position, which was
shattered Saturday lies the so-called
Meuse line-the enemy's last strong
hold in this part of France.
The line in general follows the mill
tary crests and railroads eastward
from Hirson to Mezieres, Sedan, Mou-
zon, Montmedy and Longuyon, and then
south to Etain. The railroad functions
in the regions Of Montmcdy and Lon
guyon are already under the fire OF the
American big guns.
1t is not believed the Germans have
an organized system of defences be-
tween the American front and this
Meuse line, ss they had the greatest
confidence that the Freya, Kriemhilde
and other lines could hold in spite Of
any attacks designed to break them.
The so-called Meuse line has the ad-
vantage of important railroad juno
tions connecting it with the main lines
direct from Germany by several
routes.
U. S. Losses Are Small
Considering the magnitude of the op-
GRAFTON, the American losses in yes
terday's fighting were small On the
other hand, the reports indicate that
the German casualties were unusually
heavy
Most of the prisoners captured by
the Americans in the fighting yester-
day were in excellent physical condi-
tion and displayed better morale than
lis usually the case. They were fully
cognizant of the efforts Of their gov
crnment to obtain an armistice, and
while apparently overjoyed at the prob
ability of an early peace were of that
class that has been disciplined to war
and which reflects the determined re-
'sistance the enemy has been making
against the Americans. All appeared
to realize that breaking through by
the Americans would result almost GER
tainly in the loss of part of the Ger
man army on the Western front
With a curtain OF exploding steel
benin ! them and steadily advancing
line Of Americans in front, several hun
dred Germans found themselves in an
untenablc position at Imecourt. A gar
rison had been left to defend the posi-
ton and had performed its part we'll
when the Americans stormed the place.
Machine guns sent murderous sheet
of fire into the valley until, on signal
to the American batteries. there was
laid down a barrage, not on the town,
but along a line to the rear of it. The
> Germans say that the bursting shells
came creeping toward them from the
rear as the batteries shortened their
range and that at the same time Amer
lean infantrymen advanced up the slope
toward the village. Either as a result
OF an order or a panic the defending
troops Immediately rushed down toward
the Americans with upraised hands,
crying, "Kamerad!"
Machine Gun Captured
In the woods encountered by the
Americans, especially in Bois de Bour-
gogne, machine guns were left to a
number probably not surpassed by
those in the Argonne woods, to the
south. German forces are making des-
perate efforts to hold their lines and
gas is being used in great quantities
Late this afternoon the air cleared
and scouting airplanes reported enemy
troops and Americans we'll toward the
northern edges of both woods.
Among the prisoners brought in was