The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-07-19
They Reached the Front Just
Before the Zero Hour.
Surprise Was Big Element in
Success of Attack.
CAUGHT ENEMY AT BREAKFAST
Yanks and French Captured Ar
tiIIery of Whole Division.
Little French "Fly" Tanks
Played Important Part.
BY FRED s. FERGUSON.

With the American Army in the
Champagne, July 10 (1:45 a. MI
Success of the present operations has
been the means of averting any i'm
mediate danger to Paris. The attack
is rapidly exposing a great concen-
tration of enemy reserves and artil-
lery which were being held in readl-
ness to be thrown into the battle 20
the coutheastward. 1t is a question
whether the Germans Will be able 10
organize these or will have to with
draw them.
The element of surprise was the
great factor in the Franco-American
success. Ability of the French and
Americans TO hold the enemy along
the Ma e line also contributed.
Reached Front just Before Zero Hour
The American reserves received or
ders to move to the battle line at
D. m. Rushed forward in trucks ana
Canions. they arrived within marching
distance about midnight. They began
their hike without delay and reached
the front only a short time before the
zero hour, yet when they advanced
and started chasing the boches they
apparently were as fresh as ever
Thunderstorm Helped to Hide Troops.
There was no artillery preparation.
The artillery suddenly began rolling
barrage and the tanks and infantry
n, we'd forward That was all A
heavy thunderstorm had helped 10
conceal the troop movements but the
day broke bright and clear. 1t was
great fighting weather
Many of the German soldiers were
at breakfast or were seeking shelter
from the rain when the allies went
for lard. The Americans had break
fasted' the night before and were
without the handicap OF observing
meal time.
The advance was maintained with
out interruption up to noon. when the
French and Americans halted briefly
TO rest and re-organize. Then they
swept ahead again, advancing farther
than in their first rush French cav
airy swung ahead with the infantry in
the afternoon and aided the Ameri-
cans in cleaning up the captured VII
lagos.
Captured Artillery of Whole Division.
Americans and French surrounded
and captured entire German batteries.
met ding the -ertillery of an entire d.
vision.
The Americans carried their full
pack of thirty pounds on their backs.
Most Of our units did not bother with
machine guns. 1t was a straight job
of rifles, bayonets and grenades.
The Americans worked their way
thru fields and woods and into I'll
lagos. driving the oches before them.
They took prisoners so rapidly that
the latter became a hinderance and
were sent to the rear as rapidly as
possible.
Later. when other infantry was sent
forward in support, they carried up
machine guns. These were quickly
followed by field guns and then heavy
artillery. 1t was enc of the quickest
examples of organization in the whole
war.
The fighting unity of France and
America was illustrated b. the fact
that repeatedly French and American
wounded were carried to the rear in
the same ambulance. Americans drove
French motor trucks and Frenchmen
drove American trucks.
Didn't Stop to Eat.
Doushboys, constituting the re-
serves, rode forward on trucks and
ammunition 5 agons, eating beans and
stun. as they bounced over the I'M
even ground. They had It halted to
eat in the last twenty-four hours, but
they were grinning and satisfied at the
prospect of eating up a few Heinies.''
The little French fly tanks were
remarkably effective. The Americans
worked behind them like veterans as
they rolled across the fields and UP the
streets of the villages