The daily times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1902-1936, 1918-08-08
THE FIGHT
ON THE vESLE
Americans Cross the River in
the Face Of Calling Fire
Of Machine Guns
GAS AND SHELL FIRE


Aisne, Aug. S.-Under an inferno of
shrapnel and machine gun fire and
waves of gas the Americans forced
their way over the Vesle river Tues
day night and early yesterday morn
ing, while rain, varying at times
from a drizzle to downpour, drench
ed the battlefield.
French troops already have gain
ed positions on the American left
and the Joint movement has straight
ened out the line from a point west
of Bazoches to Fismes. The Ger
mans lost considerably in casualties
and also a few prisoners, whose sto-
ries tended to corroberate the ex-
pressed opinion Of those previously
taken that the Germans expect to
continue their retreat until the bank
of the Aisne is reached.
The attack began between four
and five o'clock Tuesday afternoon
By midnight those men on the right
had reached their objectives, the
main highway east and west extend
ing along the foothills that rise north
of the river and become series OF
terraces tO the AiSne
The left wing was delayed, but ii
also reached the line shortly before
eight o'clock yesterday morning. Ar
tillery of both sides are still fighting
duels over the captured positions
and the Germans also have continued
small arm resistance. But with ev-
cry hour the positions of both the
French and Americans have beel
rendered more secure.
The attack by the infantry was
preceded by artillery preparation
,nder cover of a barrage the engineers
completed the work of throwing light
bridges over the stream, while tn,
officers chosen to lead the dash
across the river placed their men IL
position, working them downward to-
ward the points where the bridges
were known to be. The challenges
were accepted Immediately by the
German artillery and in a few min
utes the intermittent reports of the
guns which had been heard all day
were merged into one great roar.
The clouds, which had lifteo
slightly, reappeared just before TIL,
attack was launched and therefore
the action was conducted without
much advantage in observation by
aircraft.
When the order for their advance
was given the men, for the most part
swept forward in open formation
but the Germans were ready with {
defence, and even more. They hat
prepared, although apparently has
tily, counter-attack which the.
launched without success later in the
engagement.
The men on the American righ
fought their way along the choser
routes. Some of them fiounderet
across through the water while 9th
ers used the bridges that were still
standing.
One detachment of Germans some
what more than company, moved
forward into the open. Here tn,
American machine guns caught then
and, sweeping them with bullets, de
stroyed them almost totally. TIL,
Germans also attempted to strik'
the Americans disconcerting count
er-blow with a considerable force b,
plunging down a ravine leading t,
the river. Their path had been clear
ed by their artillery and they nigh
have succeeded in reaching the Am
orleans but the movement had beel
reported to the artillery station
south of the Vesle and from then
there swept into the advancing col
umn such mass of shells that tn
formation was quickly broken.
At another point a detachmen
of Germans stood until the. Ameri
cans were upon them. Then, 1t be
came a hand-to-hand conflict, tn
only one Of the kind during the bal
tie. In the mud and in darknes
where the combatants were barrel
able to distinguish each other the
fought 1t out. The Americans woI
The Americans on the left. faile
to reach their detectives until the
had called for second barrag
Under its cover they rallied an
struggled forward to the chosen p'
sitions.
The Germans, In attempting to r.