The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-07-20
YANKEES PUSH ON
Make Further Progress on Second
DAY of Offensive.

LAY OF Intensive.
With the American Forces on the
Aisne- Marine Front, July 20.-Ameri-
can and French forces are continuing
to advance their spearhead midway
between Scissors and Chateau Thier-
ry.
The Americans took several towns
in the course Of the night. The Amer
leans also made further progress.
During the night German reinforce
ments were coming from the north,
but the expected counter attack had
not appeared.
One Of the towns taken oy the
Americans was Vierzy. six miles south
Of scissors. Towns to the north AMI
south OF this were also taken in the
carrying out of the plan to straignr
en- the entire line on the scissors
Chateau Thierry front.
No resistance was encountered al
Very or in the neighboring villages
taken
At two villages on the southern por-
ton of the line the hands Of the
clocks had been stopped by shellfire
at AS o'clock, indicating the time
the allies had started their lombard
ment on Thursday morning.
One of the greatest surprises for
the Americans in the opening Of the
offensive was the flight of the Ger
mans before the attack. The Ameri-
cans, many of whom were going over
the top for the first time, were fully
prepared for stiff fight, and as the
hours went by without German
counter blow they began to wonder
when the enemy would retaliate.
American troops continue to hold
the plateau southwest of scissors
where on Thursday the Germans made
their first organized counter attack.
This soon fell down, however, as soon
as the American heavy artillery got
int oaction.
This was one of the firceSt struggles
in connection with the Franco-Ameri-
can offensive. The battle ragged south
west of Scissors for some time. 1t
resulted in the Germans falling back
finally under the rain of the heavy
gunfire of the Americans.
While the American force engaged
in the present battle is small I'm COM
parison with the total allied strength,
it may be said that 1t is greater than
any participating in a battle since the
civil war, and the conduct of the men
Is eliciting the commentator Of the
French. They have performed the
part assigned to them with steadiness,
courage and skill
To a large portion Of the Americans
-hese four days have been their first
cal lighting Reports from along the
mes indicate a great deal of clean,
open warfare. some spontaneous local
lied sections being undertaken with
out preliminary barrage. and it is
in actions of this character that the
American units have won the praise
of the French.
The tone of Thursdays cOmmuni-
ques and likewise the success of the
counter attacks have infected the
French and American troops with high
commence In the outcome OF the
great enemy offensive which now is
believed not only to have been effect
lively checked, but in at least a small
measure thrown back.
The American transport, both of
munitions and of the hospital service,
is working out smoothly and efficient
ly. Behind the line the correspondent
encountered ambulances and trucks
filed with what are known as sitting
cases which had already been attend
ed to at the advanced dressing sta
tons. These were on their way to
the rear and frequently in their pass
age they forced to the roadside groups
Of German prisoners being escorted
to the pens.
The wounded were comfortable and
cheerful. The men in one truck were
making an attempt to sing as they
passed. Further to the rear long
American railway hospital trains,
shining with their newness, moved
slowly through the ripening wheat
fields and the cool forests to the
bases. the wounded waving cheerfully
from the windows.