Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-10-03

The last twenty-four hours has been
marked on the front of the First
American Army between the Aisne
and the Mouse by very heavy German
artillery fire. both on our front Lines
and back areas.
There have been no counter attacks,
and this fact. coupled with increased
aerial activity by the Germans ard
the heavier Smelling, may have been
meant to a withdrawal along
our center and left to the kriem-
hide line. There has been no infantry
. action today except clashes between
patrols.
Our troops continue to consolidate
their positions between the ArgonLe
forest and the Meuse. In the Argonne
our lines W. been pushed slightly
ahead without great opposition in the
last twenty-four hours.
Between the Meuse and the Moselle
the Germans are also giving signs OF
Withdrawing. Patrols yesterday found
Pagr. y-sur.Moselle unoccupied by Ger
mans.
Resistance Weakens
The First American Army is ex-
erting renewed pressure against the
German lines on the Aisne-Meuse sec
tor and is making progress in pushing
toward the Kriemhilde line. Our ad-
vance guards report that the boche
resistance Is weakening in the Ar
goy.ne forest and the Aire Valley.
Further east along the Mouse the
German resistance remains firm. This
In easy to explain. Dur troops on the
right have pushed up the Meuse Valley
to Brieulles, which is only a mile from
where the Kriemhilde trench line
crosses the river. over to the west
ward in the Aire Valley we are about
Ave kilometers from the line and In
the Argonne We are perhaps eight
kilometers from where the Kriemhilde
pcsitions runs just north Of Grand
pre-.
What the boche evidently is doing.
after being worn down by our unremit-
ting pressure since Friday, Is TO get back
to the Kriemhilde line, and to hold this
pla he must stand firm on his right
while yielding on his left. The Ameri-
can advance north of Exermont and the
French advance west OF the Argonne
forest have placed the Germans In the
woods in a pocket, out of which they
are now trying to get.
After three days of violent counter
attacks the Germans have essayed only
one mediocre attempt north of Exer-
nnaf, which was easily broken up.
lnlS may nave otfh W wv " "
drswal. The German artillery of small
ler caliber is less active now, although
they continue to send a large number
Of shells from big rifles stuck in be-
hind the K%riemhilde line.
Must Complete Positions
The prediction made In these dis
patches two days ago that the German
resistance in the region of M~ontfaaucon
and Apremont was due 10 a desire to
put the Kriemhilde position in better
shape, seems to hold good. Captured
orders show that the troops have been
commanded to hold this region until
the Grandpre positions are ready.
Captured documents show also the
Importance the higher lays
on holding his Kriemhilde line. for be-
III this line there is no organized GER
man position this side Of the French
border. and II they lose 1t the Ger
mans must face a fight in the open with
: eur troops, who like and excel at that
sort of warfare, where strong backs
and stout hearts play the biggest role,
Good weather did wonders for us in
repairing the roads and reports are thar
traffic conditions have improved 100 per
rent over two days ago when. 1t may be
stated, our service of supply was
in a sorry plight through no fault OF
its own. Determination n shovels
have dug US out of a hole.
See what Lies Ahead
On Hill 3l5. lying Just east OF Mont
faucon, is the observatory from which
the German Crown Prime watched the
Hateful battle of Verdun. Turning about
face one gets a most excellent view OF
what lies ahead of the first American
army. A matter of ten kilometers 10
the right winds the Mouse River, the val
ley of which one cannot see for the
woods. About two Or three kilometers
TO the north lies Nantillers, which We
hold. and down the road one may see
the church steeple of Briuelles, which
also Is In our hands. To the north one
makes out Hill 800, the key position &c
the Kriemhilde line, From Montfaucor
hill one sees plainly 10 the northwest
the village of Cierges. over beyond
Hill Eli lies Romagne. which is one kilo'
meter this side of the German trenches
To the west from the hill south OF
Exermont one may look up the Air'
valley and see the stream turn west a
st. Juvan, hiding itself in the Argonpt
forest, where ii runs TO Grandpre abou'
q mile south Of the Kriemhilde line.
The terrain hereabouts is very hilly
forming strong positions for our use IL
repulsing German counter-attacks. Yves
Of Exermont hill rise the dignifed slopes
of the Argonne forest. the fastness o.
which hide SO many tales of heroism
not only of 1918, but of 1915 and 1871
- well.
Having had now three good hot meal
since their supplies have gotten up, an,
having had some semblance of rest ant
with the rain halted and dry blanket
distributed, our soldiers feel like nev
men and are ready for any sort OF fight
ing. II their spirits become a bit damp
ened, IL must be remembered that |
rained on Wednesday. the day befor
the attack ralned on Thursday. Friday
Eaturday and Sunday. and has been dis
maiiy cold. Their chief consolation |
fhat no matter how dlsagreeable IL ha
been for them. 1t has been just as ba'
for tbs Germans.
New Workers Heroes
Despite the bad weather. our air ser
vice reports more than 100 enemy plane
Wrought down since the attack starte
nn1 t~ventyrone balloons.
New York city will be proud to lear
that II was the boys the metropolis sen
~ Camp Upton last year who have bee
GUhting a battle against the German
on1 the natural obstacles In the Argonn
forest and breaking up positions that tn
Qormans believed couid not be broker
70 the lot OF these youngsters fell Der
\ haDs the toughest slice OF the TOUCHES
~ ~ the American troops In France hav
9eset tackled. They have gone thrcug
. 1n>ment and steel n wood defenses an
Dncounted lines of barbed wire, strun
from many thousand of trees. In tn
awo-mile zone of these defenses whic
~ Germans thought could never be Gu
Their advance has been simply n q