Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-09-29
advance OF AMERICANS
SUBMERGED THE ENEMY
Foe Was Able Neither to Fight to
Advantage nor Make Good
Retreat.
!. S. BIG GUNS AT WORK
Our "AmatcurS' Over There Making
History Which Kaiser May Read
With Interest on St. Helena or
Some Other Secluded Spot.
rpr Associntch rrcss l


WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY
= NoRTHW EST OF VERDUN. Friday.
September 27.-Details of yesterdays
fighting along the line held by one
American CORPS shows that the infantry
= overrun the First German positions.
The enemy first attempted to make
stand on the line running through
= Cuisy, but the Americans pushed ahead
4 and by SIS o'clock Cu;sy was taken
\ and detachments pressed forward as
far as the Faycl Farm during the fore
noon.
Only q few hours after the battle be-
gan the correspondent started for the
front. Although American and German
shells had torn UP the roads but a short
already filling. them in and making
them serviceahle. In the perfectly blue
SKY there We're as long as dayiiEht
ed back and forth over tho lines and
engaged in daring combats.
In spite, OF statements made by
prisoners that the attack was tOrcSeen,
it is evident that the enemy had not
i anticipated the time, place or char
able to make adequate preparation TO
meet 1t or TO retire. lie lacked re-
serves to defend the positions behind
the front line. The American advance
already has cut across the narrow
gauge lines which form the only rail
connection between the two main rail-
WEATHER AIDED
AMERICANS IN ONSET
Fine weather was of great assistance
to the Americans in sweeping forward
over very difficult ground. The ground
which has been taken is very import
ant. From the beginning OF the pre-
liminary bombar dmemt until nightfall
the weather was almost ideal and gave
ample opportunity for the American
airmen to play their part Soon after
midnight last night. however. the sky
ClOnda1
steadily this morning. that a staff Of
ncer remarked. This is helping the
Last evening the German artillery fire
p became heavier, apparently indicating
that he had retired TO his second line
of resistance, This line he is. expected
to try TO hold more tenaciously. Shells
of big caliher fell with regularity be-
hind the advanced American lines az
American batteries and damage the
reads These shells however. fell al
fields and did not impede the American
ADVANCE. The Germans apparently
made desperate effort to withdraw
the heavy artillery captured by the
Americans in the region of DanncvouN.
but the American artillery had severed
the German lines of communication. In
great elbow OF the Mouse River. four
210-millmetcr guns and eight so
miilimeter pieces werc captured by the
Americans.
TO the northwest of Dannevoux the
American artillerists are firing upon
and southwest. To the north tho
American heavy guns were Smelling
Nilosnes and the bridge crossing the
American heavy guns had the range of
Sivry sur Mouse and the river, bridge,
making ii Impossible for the Germans
TO withdraw their equipment.
In Dannevoux the Americans captur-
Cd large amount of German ammuni.
ton and also the personal baggage OF
three German regiments. At various
points west OF the Mouse the Americans
captured many machine guns, trench
mortarS and small artillery pieces.
Secretary Baker visited the various
HEADQUARTERS behind the front Friday.
in the vicinity OF cages holding Ger
man prisoners.
one cage inspected by Secretary
Baker contained 2,0oo prisoners. When
the secretary appeared. American Of
fccrs commanded .nc Germans to stand
at attention. All except one, an officer
Haped to their feet and a pull on the
shoulders Of the German officer by an
American sergeant soon brought him
TO his feet
Speaking in German, the secretary
asked the prisoners questions regard
ing conditions within the German lines
and what the soldiers thought OF the
war.
The trousers of one had been patch
ed. The secretary noticed this and ask,
ed about it, The prisoner explained
that each German regiment had
Secretary Baker gave orders that the
prisoners he given fooai.ss soQn pos
s!ble after being brought to the rear
The secretary was told that the Ger
mans had heard OF American canned
beef and that they always asked for
ii first after being captured. White
bread came second in their desires.
a German officer who wore monocle
end carried cane rcsc!nOled the Ger
man crown prince He attracted much
attention from the sccrctary's party
MANY PRISONERS