Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-09-03
Americans Take Town
In Attack in BeIuiIJm

WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN
FLANDERS. Sunday. Sept. 1.-CBy the
Associated Prsss.)-In their first fight
ing IN Belgium the Americans captured
Noormezeele and several strong German
positions in that immediate vicinity. On
their entrance into Voormezeele the in
Naders found that all that renamed OF
the town was piles Of debris. for the
shell fire had been so intense that hard
ly one brick was left standing upon
another.
As tire Americans advanced the Ger
man rear guards from what little cover
remained opened UP with their machine
guns. but these were quickly silenced
without much trouble Elsewhere in
the same locality the Americans also
advanced the lire. keeping in contacS
with the retreating enemy. Counter at
tacISs BY the Germans resulted IN their
gaining little more than a slight foot
hold. which was in every case quickly
ioosensd by British and American re-
attacks In most places thC Germans
did not even get iOOthOld, for the adj
yancing formations melted away under
hurricanes OF FIRE. There has been espe-
ciaIiy heavy fighting IN the whirlpool Of
the battle around BullecOurt and Hene-
court. where the British are holding TO-
s.tiOns almost resting against the
IrOcOurt-Queant. or WOtan line.
Vt is believed that -BullecOurt itsel-
has thrice been lost and won in the
past two days. First the British were
IN the town and then the Germans
While one side had the control the ma
crime -sJnners and bOmbers from tn :
ether woulC filter in and get the posi-
ton and then the place would become
most active From ruin to ruin. throuSh
cellars and through old and new
trenches the lighting has continued ana
all Of the time almost the same tactics
were being followed in the country sur
rounding. In TIE language Of the Brit
ish soldiers il has been a dog hght
here for two days
The Brush have retired only Whea
norde= OF Germans appeared. hat their
retirement usually has been To the posi-
,for.z where they could pour machine
gun bullets into The enemy Heavy
losses were inflicted upon the Germans.
Just now il appears that Builecourt
ard Heudfcourt again are IN BRUSH
hands and that the cellars dugouts ana
hiding places are being mopped 10
Similar lighting has been goins on IA
the villages OF EcouSt - Melh anu
I.ongaate. and these places also are IN
tJ,e possession Of the British
TFe rrourd in front Of the BrlIlsh
lines throughout this region IS pileo
,,-Jtb dead Germans. for The British nave
ror hesitated TO temporarily reIlEe
SLIGHTLY IN the face Of strong enemy a.
tacks when il appeared that tAei' owl
strength could thereby be cohssr
and at the same tire they Souio get an
opportunity 10 NOW down E'sSeS VI
Gerrlaus These tactics nave "'u .
,.osr disastrous result for the tte ana
-. -. Rrftish have not lost anything
% shown by the fact that their casual
IS continue extremely light while All
-osftfaus are finally retained
a. Mont 81. Quentin the Germans
-. ro,,uter attacked again and again
-. srsat cost. but she line there remain
Ths .,errv seems 90 have removed
--f-t,.,lgy- eve: y.hIu- he had IN PerohhS
--r-~ns. realized that tie town sureiy
-,,,,st CONE INTO British hanHS sOOi' O~'
NEVERTHELESS there WAS hEhtinB ..'ei
before the place was capture-- lne' {
-. -, mere hard fighting SrouEd
LeTrauslcy. watch I"li Z" ''-T -
- ,fa,-s ago The Germans here were
c-,.,t,- established in the cemetery II
-. c,t.-a of The town but the place row
-. 49, srorr,sed and captCrCc and ire
r.-.,.,,s t.-i.cn south and east Late
.----,.-T,5ay- -l,c enemy delivered powerful
,o7,,,ter attacks east Of rremicourt OF
~. 4paume-Cambrai road. the lnIah
try being assisted. according to reports
- 80 Tanks. The Germans succeed
cd i'm penetrating a short distance put
ans British Immediately re-attacked ana
the ground which the Germsns had oc-
cuplsd quickly became = shaIn"les- In
this operation the British captured many
prisoueTs- Among the Germans deao
At this point WAS battalion com
mandtr-
Tho PrItlsh were also counter attack
81 AZ TauIx-Vrzucc.Irt, Tie Germans
gaining a corner in the northeast sec
ron Of the village and holding IT for
p time, only u be driven on South OF
the Arras-Csmbrai rOad the advance
tcouanusd on Page 8, Column SD