Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-10-04
CITIZENS OF ALSACE
MOVED BY ENEMY;
u. S. BLOW FEARED
CONTINUED from Page u

from north of st. Juvin to south of
Landres-et-St. Georges and continues
eastward, including the heights of
ROmagne wood and Geanes wood. which
dominate the important valley of the
AHdon- This river Is crossed just south
OF Romagne and then the system runs
to tlrI southeast ocross the higher
ground in the forests of De Cunel and
De Fails. Then, turning northward. il fol-
lows the crest of the hills over natural
~ strong positions until II reaches the
Mouse north of Brieulles 1t is further
protected by prepared positions on HlIl
26S, across the Mouse.
The system is one of very great Nrt-
CTal strength. Certain key positions
targlements are prepared for immediate
At other points the enemy is reported
TO be working busily and 10 have been
active in erecting new fortincatlonS
since the beginning of the American
The notwithstanding system was
begun last year before The Americans
became am active factor i'm the war.
Ii was strengthened from time TO time.
trenches being laid out and dugouts
finally added. The system IS not so
strong as the famous Hindenburg line
but, nevertheless, has extremely strong
positions.
AS it is the last enemy defense sys-
tenn between the Americans and the
Meuse where IL flows north 10 Mesieres,
a stubborn effort to hold II may be
expected and the difficulty OF carrying
this system is not moderated oy Amerl-
Violent artillery firing developed along
the center of the American line between
Germans also bombarded the American
positions on the right near the Meuse,
10 a limited extent, but on the extreme
left there was a significant silence for
the greater part OF the day.
Along this sector OF the front the po-
sitions held by the Americans follow a
zig-zag line. The number OF Germans
near the Argonne forest is less than
that fighting on the eastern side. Gen
eral Gouraud's drive west of the for
est, together with the advance of the
Americans 20 the east of IL threatens
TO cut of the enemy units still clinglng
10 the wooded hills south of Grand-Pre.
No general offensive was undertaken
by the Americans today. All along the
line fighting was restricted 10 patroi
actions. 1t has been learned that the
enemy expected a heavy attack today
and TO that fact is attributed his heavy
artillery fire This fire was particular
~ heavy, gas and high explosives and
shrapnel shells being used. They were
leans and from across the Mouse. Not
only were the forward positions bonn
barded but many shells fell on Drill
lancourt, Harcourt and the country be-
tween Jure wood and the river.
At times this fire took on the charac-
ter of a barrage, but ii was concentrat-
ed. for the most part, on the nghung
line. 1t was shifted during the day to
the center Of the line and later moved
far to the right, FORCES being savagely
shelled until counter battery work de-
creased the volume of fire. The Ameri-
cans have responded with a vigorous
fire which punished the enemy severely.
At various points minor infantry clashes
occurred, both sides using machine guns.
Aviators Hampered
All day the sky was very cloudy and
aviators weer hampered in their work.
This forced the armies to work without
material assistance from the observers.
At one point the Germans succeeded in
getting airplanes across the line. Smoke
bombs were dropped, indicating Ameri-
can position to the enemy gunners. OrH
enemy machine was brought down by
anti-aircraft guns, while pursuit planes
accounted for others. One American
aviator, attacked by seven Fokkers,
fought his way out, bringing down one
enemy machine. '..
According to the calculations of one
airman, il is shown that in 1916 pilots
in the aviation section of the allied
armies flew an aggregate of $4,000
miles. In September of this year one
squadron alone flew for an aggregate
of 4,719 hours over the lines and cover
ed total of SOC, 900 miles. This does
not include numerous trial flights.
Although last. night was frosty and
the American soldiers were chilled. tired
and wet, they displayed keen spirit all
along the line. In every trench they
were as full of energy and determine
ton as on the first day of the battle.
Engineer battalions have done good
work on the roads. Commissary trains