New-York tribune., 1918-08-05

negligible, especially IN men taken
prisoners. Aside from the strategic
gains made by the Allied armies, the
morale of the men has been wonder
fully reinvigorated
The path CT the Allied troops TODAY
was through territory that BETRAYED
more and more the enormous sacrifice
made by the Germans in material. At
one depot near Ferc-on-Tardcnojs il is
estimated that more than $4,000 900
worth of ammunition and general
stores fell into the hands of the AL
hes, and the volume Of supplies de-
stroyed at this same depot is believed
to have amounted to several times
that va !ue. In the remains of smaller
depots In scores of places huge quanti-
ties of stores and munitions vet in
good condition were found, the G.r-
mans departing SO hastily they had
not time to finish their work of de-
struction.
On hill near one Of the American
positions stand two German tanks only
slightly out of order, and from everv
directlon reports are reaching general
headquarters of the discovery Of tanks,
automobiles, clothing and food.
From the most forward line Of the
iIoHl 10 lar IN the rear. the whole
country. depopulated by civilians.
once the pride of France. have been
broken in hundreds of places by the
thousands of trucks, guns and march
ing men. But, all in order like one
great machine, the numerous elements
of the great Allied army moved for
ward, while reports of conditions north
of the Nesle indicate a confusion such
as might be expected of an army driven
as the German army has been.
The German heavy guns have
reached far behind the Allied line,
but without scoring any hits of i'm
portance. Nearer the river the Ger
mans have sent over many gas shells,
but these have not effected the slight
est Generalization among the forces
OF General Foch. The work of throw
ing in bridges to replace those de-
stroyed by the Germans continues al
most without interruptpiopn.
dnF nssfy hy nsTtn rsaS of s Gemsna Sad
of wood, covered with tar paper and
sheet iron. Most of these were de-
stroyed by dynamite or fire. At places
whore they had the time the Germans
fclled large trees across the roadways
and stretched barbed wire. They also
exploded dynamite under bridges and
placed explosives in houses in the viii
lagos. In Marueil-en-Dolc there was
not a single window pane in the entire
village The houses had been pillaged
and virtually nothing of value re-
manned when the Americans entered.
Scenes Of destruction faced the ad-
vancing armies everywhere. The eX-
tent of the damage done to villages,
railroads and highways and to bridges
over creeks and rivers was unlimited.
The Germans everywhere made siren
uous efforts to destroy their great am
munition depots. and at many places
in fields and forests enormous heaps
of blackened shells showed how we'll
they succeeded.
In scores of villages from the Ourcq
to the Nesle the French and American
troops encountered scenes Of demoi
tion. Everything that could be burned
had been set atire. Even hundreds of
acres of grain here and there had felt
the effects of the torch. The grain
crops, however, were not extensively
damaged, owing to the rain having put
out the fires.
At various points along the railroad
northward from Ferc- EN- Tardenois the
Germans placed charges of explosives
under the railway line and detonated
masses.
On hill northwest of Dravegny the
American heavy guns upset two Ger
man armOred cars nOrthward bound
Each car had a onepoundcr and ma
chine gun in its turret. One car had
been turned on its side along the road
The other was a hundred yards away in
a ditch. 1t had been damaged by fire,
apparently due to an explosion of the
large supply Of ammunition which it
was carrying. Infantrymcn found
They had been burned to death. The
chauffeur and the gunners of the other
car apparently had escaped.
The Americans had many narrow
escapes from explosives attached to
doors in villages and connected with
electric batteries. This was particu-
larly the case at magnificent chateau.
where the Germans had been making
their headquarters. At house in
Mareuil-en-Dole an American officer
had partly opened the door when he en-
countered the wires attached to a bomb.
In a chateau northwest of Loupeigne
the Americans encountered barrels
filled with explosives with decorating
wires attached to them.
The Americans have captured many
machine guns. These are being used
against the Germans. Pieces of artil-
lery which were unchanged and left
behind by the Germans already have
been brought into action against their
former owners.
On hill north of Mont St. Martin
an American fell. the victim of a Ger
man she'll On the canvas bag of his
gas mask was printed in ink, "For God
and humanity" The gas mask was
tackled on the improvised cross over
the soldiers grave.
In the forests of Nesles and Dole am
muniton worth about Sl,000,000 was
found. the Germans having failed to