Evening journal., 1918-09-14

try.
on the right near the Moselle the
Americans encountered some difficulty
in clearing out woods, and there were
occasional s'iff fights along the heights.
The night before the American attack
there was little to indicate a big Of
fensive was shout to start. As the sun
went down and night fell over TIE
towns woods, fields, roads and sharp
outlines OF Montsec nothing save in
creased streams of speeding army We
hicles over busy roads, all moving to-
ward the front, indicated other than
the usual quiet The American prepa-
rati0ns had been well protected IN the
darkness and clouds.
The evening turned TO a drizzllng'
rainy night. Through hours OF watch
ing IL was impossible 20 distinguish
single outline in the inky blackness.
All up and down the fighting line no
gun sounded. Then a solitary Amer
lean flare shot up Frightening the land-
scape flashing "all's well. several
times squirmy German outposts shot
up frantic punches Of flares, anticipai-
ing attacks which did not materiallze.
SUDDENLY at 4 A. NJ. through the peace
full blackness a single American gun
behind Seichprey, the first American
battlefield in France, flashed chal-
lenge 10 the Kaiser. This was foll0W-
ed by flashes along the entire line. 1'le
flashes increased piling on top OF eacl
other. Up and down the front near
and far until at 40 a. m, the spec
tacle looked like continuous winkinS
Of lightning along the horizon so amaz-
inplv fast the eye could not follow the
blazing OF the cannons.
More flashes, less dazzling and fur-
ther distant marked the steady eAplo-
sions on the German side OF the llhes'
In front Of Montsec huge light DroAe
out telling that shells had struck an
ammunition dump. Its flame illuml-
mated a vast expanse Of blown up DarD-
ed wire. trenches, dugouts and strong
points. no longer strong. Another dpmp
hurst into a blaze under the pounding
OF the accurate American artilerymen.
Clouds OF battlesmOke above reflected
variations Of a red and yellow glow as
The inferno spread over the German po-
sitlOnc Our batteries turned loose To-
ward Montsec, brightly silhouetting lis
crater.
lin and own the 80 miles OF front the
continuous fire raced, dimmed sllghty
then flaring brilliantly again. The Ger
man batteries replied but feebly ap- |
parently out-barraged and cowed. The
zero hour came. Its first surprise was
an enormous flame miles long which |
darted into the German positions. This
was life eXtinguishing chemicals, shot
off simultaneously, producing huge
smokeclouds. Gas was sent against the |
enemy concentration points.
Suddenly an officer shouted excit-
edly: /
haresW
Red flares were shooting up from the
trenches. yet they could not compare
with the sheets Of flame.
"Red flares mean the Americans are
said the officer. 1t was
wonderful moment for us all. In the 1
half-dawn we couldn't follow the
American infantry going over the top,
yet the forward moving barrages and
the smoke clouds indicated their prog
ress until daylight revealed the pano-
rama. Through glases saw the
In q mass advancing on
Richecourt, following a barrage, and
taking the town easily, evidently with
out fighting.
Then we saw them apparently press
ing through Lahayvike toward the
woods in the rear which were drowned
In clouds Of white -mOkC.
suddenly our doughbOys began firing
nto the smoke cloud. They dropped
20 the ground in skirmish order and so
vent forward by degrees. A few re-
urned carrying their comrades. Others
an on into the smoke cloud and dis
.ppeared In the woods.
on our left nearer TO MOntsec the
classes revealed six American tanks
steadily forward from Xiv
ay-one along the road, the others
through fields. DOughbOys surrounded {
hem, walking deliberately toward
fontseo to drive out the Germans.
mis- is but a small glimpse Of our first
ank attack.
Sklmming under black clouds hang
ng low came an American plane DASH
ng back and forth dangerously close
o the ground.
Several others followed. There was
lot a single hostile machine with
nuogh ambition TO shoot at the Amer
can flyers.