The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1918-07-20

south of the city. French cavalry
also penetrated far eastward. re-
turning to make reports Of condi-
tions. Aviators reported that late
yesterday the Germans began to draw
back guns from the woods north Of
ChateauThierrys
While allied soldiers have been
around Scissors, with the Americans
holding Belleau, Immediately to the
south, there has been as yet no fight
ing direct for Scissors II the
Franco-American forces advance far
enough south OF the city, the Germans
may eyacuate 1t without fight.
in gaining this terrain, the French
and Americans took thousands OF
prisoners. Thirty.dve hundred were
credited to the Americans alone. II
should be stated that American
forces compose a small proportion OF
the total allied forces involved in this
operation. We have taken many
guns and an immense quantity of am
munitior.
how splendidly the French and Ameri
cans can cooperate in such an action.
In no case have the Americans Jagged
behind. The only difficulties have
come through their not stopping upon
reaching their detectives.
AS has been told, the attack start
ed without artillery preparation. AS
the boys started. the artillery laid
down barrage of short duration,
and then lifted It to the limit OF the
range. Our men reached that limit,
and we had to stop firing until the
horses could be hitched TO the guns
which were carried further to the
IRON;
The American attack schedule
worked like this--a hundred yards in
three minutes. rest OF Ave minutes
another 100 yards. and a rest OF
forty minutes. Because the boehe
was completely surprised and the go
ing was found to be easy, many OF
our men disregarded the schedule
and went on further The waves
which were supposed to overflow one
another finally got going all togeth
/ er. and this proved TO be not hal
had when the German launched theil
countorattacks.
The most formidable German
counterattack against the Americans
was aimed at our troops near Sois
cons. but just as II started at moor
4 the Americans started a fresh at
tack further suoth, which smashed
the German eounterattack and nette'
us gain of three kilometers an,
several hundred prisoners. In thi
attack the Americans got iifty-tw,
field guns.
A feet OF tanks did yeoman work
smashing their way through thu
German wire defenses. In several IN
stances the Americans got ahead O
the tanks and cut Nthe wire wit
pliers.
With the American Forces on Aisn
, Marne front, July l9.-American an
French forces are continuing to az
vance their spearhead midway b,
/ tween Scissors and Chateau Thierrl
The Americans took several town
during the night, and early this mori
, inc made further progress Germa
! reinforcements were coming from III
, north during the night, but up to ea
ly this afternoon their counterattac
had not appeared.
Washington, July 20.-Whlle 1t
hot possible yet to give the exa
I. limits Of the gains made In the tw
d days fighting by the French al
p Americans. II is known that at !
r deepest point the penetration HI
;, reached approximately seven mil
Il and that over the entire % miles
ranges downward to about two mil,
II In addition to the inhiction OF G
70 tremely heavy casualties on &
% enemy the French and Americi
n. forces up to the present have TAX
h. more than 1900 prisoners, iucmdi
N two colonels with their chiefs of sti
At and In excess of $50 cannon.
Id Paris. July 20.-French and Anne