Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-09-29
Tells THRILLING STORY
OF AMERICAN ATTACK
bombardment Wednesday Night and
early Thursday Was Magnin-
cent Spectacle.
SUCCESSFUL AT ALL POINTS
United States Troops Carried All Be.
fore Them in Great Champagne
Drive--Baker Sees Army Go Into
Action Northwest of Vcrtlun.
fBy Associated Press. I

WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY ON
THE CHAMPAGNE FRONT Septem-
Der 2s.-Wednesday nights lombard
ment of tho German lines preparatory
TO tho attack begun Thursday morning
was magnificent spectacle. 1t was n
cloudless night and thousands of guns,
All hiring furiously. wreathed the hills
In a ceaseless sparkle of fame like
myriads of fireflics. For six hours tho
roar of tho cannon-like tho roll of a
giant drum--was unbroken.
The enemy is reported to have been
suspicious OF an attack somewhere in
the Champagne sector or toward Bricry
ana for tho past ten days was watch
ing this front closely. During tho
tack lie had Increased his reserves in
ms region from four TO twenty three
Prussian guards defending Vauquois.
mere being three divisions in the line
tbe s one IN reserve, strongly resisted
carly thursday. they The 1' We're e'f instrue t
BY n general review Of the fight after
my is stubbornly retiring TO prepared
INES lines to which al this heavy artillery
r nas been ,bst This the
inadsGuate during the early phases OF
The staff work of the American army
was excellent. Continuous touch was
maintained between divisions and re-
ports were received without delay.
The transport of supplies is working
without hitch.
The American attack began at $50
o'clock Thursday morning on a twenty
M N tront between the Argonne and
commenced on the tanks at 1880
O'Clock Wednesday night and on the
morning. It was 'o Of an 'e Extremely i Su Sc.
we're character. and was carried to con-
siderable depth. The German artillery,
which was not in position to bring
powerful cross-fre on the front Of
attack, was subjected to Il gas hom-
bardment during the entire time The
night was fine, but dense mist formed
toward morning greatly increasing the
customed to night work.
AMERICAN ASSAULT
EVERYWHERE SUCCESSFUL
Notwithstanding this the American
assault was successful everywhere.
advance OF schedule and the progress
continues, although the encmy's resist
ance is stiltening at certain places
% where a IN attack apparently was cX-
The Germans were forced to give
positions of great strength which for
BILE: Consequently a feeling of much
satisfaction Is permissible. but, it is
results finally to be attained
The counterbattery work OF the Ger
mans to refrain our advance and his
machine-gun fire caused trouble. His
air work was very imperfect early in
the day, but Improved later. and was
directed particularly against the
tanks did we'll whom they assisted in
the advance
BAKER WITNESSES ATTACK
NORTHWEST OF VERDUN
Secretary Baker witnessed the be-
ginning Of the American drive along
the frnot northwest OF Verdun Thurs
day morning. At o'clock, after the
enemy positions had been bombared
with high explosives and gas shells,
the American infantry advanced.
Squadrons of tanks again formed an
effective part OF the attacking force.
especially in the region of Chepty
These land battleships' moved UP
with the infantry smashing down wire
entanglements and routing the enemy
from machine-Eun nests. The work Of
the American airplanes was one Of tlo
features OF the combat. An aerial bar
rier was maintained over the line, pre-
venting the enemy from observing the
movements of troops. In spite of the
fog the airmen swooped low over the
enemys trenches, and materially as
sisted the advancing infantry.
Without hitch and absolutely ac-
cord ing TO schedule the entire limo was
moving last night into positions par
alleling the line Of attack.