New-York tribune., 1918-10-12
Yanks Clear
The Argonne
OfGernans
French and American
Forces Join Hands in
the Grand Pre- Gap

PARIS, Oct II II o. a,.) BY the AS
sociated Press ,-TheN cleaning UP OF
the Argonne forest has been COMPLETED
by the American troops. No German
now remains in that great wooded rraa-
LoNDoN, Oct. II Il o. m. I'm the
Champagne the French and Americans
joining hands north of the Argonnc in
the Granpre Gap, have occupied the
Grandpre Station, while patrols are
said to have entered that town itself.
On the river Meuse, northwest of
Verdun, the Americans have cleared
out a little pocket in the direction of
'Slvry which has held them up lone
time.
WITH THE AMERICAN FORCES
NORTHWEST OF vERDUN, Oct. IL
BY the Associated Press) moon J.
Heavy artillery firing in the region
west OF the Meuse River began early
to-day. The Americans started the ac-
tion before daylight and the lombard
ment was responded TO by the Germans.
Fires are reported in the region OF
many towns behind Che lines and it is
believed these were started by the
Anne erican shells.
Ian:is Shell Towns
WITH THE AMERICAN FORCES
NORTHWEST OF VERDUN, Oct. IL
lBy The Associated Press) Between
Romagne and the Argonne the artil-
lery also was active during the night,
both sides shelling various towns and
crossroads. The Americans shelled
Cunel, Clcrgy-le Grand, Bantheville
Aincrevillc and Doulcon.
The German light artillery viciouslv
shelled the Bois des Ogons, the Bois
de Fais and the Bois de Cunel inter
mittently during the morning, while
the German heavy guns shelled Sept
sarges, Montfaucon and Cuisy.
Fires were reported in the regions
OF St Juvin, st. Georges and Banthc-
vile, north of the American lines.
Allied airplanes to-day dropped
bombs on Dun-sur- -Meuse and on other
points in that region. American pur-
suit planes, which accompanied the
bombers, are reported to have shor
down several German planes which at
tempted to drive off the bombing ma
chimes.
German bombing planes were un-
usually active on Thursday afternoon.
They dropped bombs in the region of
Baulny and Apremont. in an effort to
hamper wagon road traffic.
Americans Hit Hard
American forces struck the German
lines just east of the CArgonne Forest
yesterday. They captured the villages
OF Sommerance, Chevieres and Marco.
The ridge of Dame Marie was
.3 stormed after hard fighting. More
ing the day. These included one
colonel and two battalion stats.
Fighting opened yesterday morning
with the infantry sweeping through
the northern portion of the Argonne
Forest for maximum distance OF
nearly five miles Little opposition
vas encountered from the enemy, who
had probably retired during the night
TO escape from the untenablc pocket
formed by the American Aanking move
nent on Monday
As the Americans pushed forward
they found that the Germans had made
a thorough job of blocking and de-
stroying. the roads as they retired.
At o'clock in the afternoon they
were in Marcq and Chevieres, having
taken the La Folie farm and the Rich
ard farm and advancing on the Negre-
mont Woods, the only piece of forest
land between them and Grand Pre-.
Half an hour later they had can't
ured Sommerance, and had advanced
north of that village. BY this attack
the Americans have taken iirmer grip
on the territory just north of the
broken Kriemhild limo