The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-07-20
GERMAN DEAD
COVER GROUND
Americans and French Advance
Over Mile on SoiSSonS-Cha-
teau-Thierry Front.
FACE HEAVY BARRAGE FIRE
Americans Advance With He.
roic Spirit Despite Fire of
Enemy Machine Guns.
FACE HEAVY BARRAGE FIRE
(Associated Press.)

(Associated Press)
With the American Army Between
| the Aisne and the Marne. Friday. july
| 10 (nighU.-American troops partici-
| pating in the Franco-American adj
vance late today of about "A mile and
| quarter on the Soissons- Chateau
Thierry front went forward against
strong machine gun fire over ground
covered with German dead.
From hill east of Dommieres about
six kilometcrs southwest of ,Soissons
the correspondent Friday saw the
Americans going into action in the
forward movement. The advance was
well organized and the system worked
well from one end of the line to the
other.
Under a barrage fire from 75s and
55's American infantry and machine
gunners advanced through ripening
grain fields, trampled by the retreat
ing Germans Thursday, and reached
their objectives according to schedule
despite the fire of German machine
guns. The bombardment of the big
German guns was feeble Mt this point.
Americans Advance.
The Americans started from point
west of the ia scissors road near
the she'll shattered village of Missy
Aux Bois. advancing nearly kilome-
ter before tho Germans began to reply
with their big guns TO the American
barrage. Missy Aux Bois lies in n
valley and the Americans were ad-
vancing upgrade toward the east. A
few tanks were here and there pre-
ceding the infantrymen. AS the Amer
leans progressed the enemy barrage
F. fire increased.
The hillsides east OF Dommieres,
over which the AMERICANS advanced,
were dotted with dead. The entire re :
gion was well within the German lines
until after the Franco American often
sive of Thursday. One quickly dug
trench had been filled with German
bodies. They were machine guhners
who had been caught by tho terrific
fire of the allied artillery. In many
places the German dead were in piles.
while trench on the crest of hill
contained more than 100 bodies.
Intense Barrage Fire.
After intense barrage fire along the
entire front from scissors to Chateau
Thicrry, the allied advance this eve
ming opened exactly at $3.50 o'clock.
AS far as the eye could reach could
be seen observation balloons while tho
sky was specked with allied airships
darting in various directions, many
returning from over the German lines
TO make q quick report on observa-
tions and the result of the fire of the
big guns. From the hillside the smoke
and dust thrown up by the allied shells
could be seen away beyond the al
vancing Americans.
Behind the advancing troops came
American trucks loaded with choco-
late, tobacco and various foodstuffs.
These went back and forth steadily.
Other trucks went from place to place
providing foodstuffs and water for the
Americans who were to follow their
comrades.
Twenty-Five minutes after the Fran
CO. American advance began, the rattle
of German machine guns could be
heard in the distance, but 1t did not
affect the Americans, who only ap-
peared more eager to progress. the
officer had to caution them not to pro-
ceed beyond the barrage IN accord
ance with the schedule. The German
machine gun fire continued but short
time, and as thes Americans could he
seen steadily pressing forward east
ward the rattle dwindled and finally
stopped.
Deserted Village.
Missy Aux Bois was deserted by the
French peasants before the Germans
came the village having been torn
from end to end by shell fire in pre-
vious fighting. Not one wall or any
stone buildings were standing. The
only living things in the village, which |
is now within the allied lines, were
three pigeons which roasted on the |
OF the steeple of the village |
church during the roar of the battle.
They flew around in circles in bewil-
1erment, returned to their roosting |
place and then flew around again.
: To the north and south of Missy
Aux Bois are two other deserted vii |
ages, in one of which every building !
S in ruins. The fields In This section |
ire covered with grain ready for the |
harvest. Many rusty tools and imple-
nents are standing. just where they
we're left when the alarm came. When
darkness settled over the battlefield
he Americans still maintained their
ldvance. The guns in the rear were
BOUNDING away. guarding them through
he night.
The battle zone along the front. OF
he allied counter attack between the
\isne and the Marine is being extended
urther south towards Chateau -Thier-
Y than the region previously affected.
ccording tofinformation early this
morning. ~
The Franco American forces are
ontinuing the steady pounding Of the
ortherny part of the line near Sois-
ons, although the movement IS lack-
ng the dashing advance which char
cterized the first days of the attack.
The attempts Of the crown princes
enerals to rally their forces to meet
he steady movement of the allies has
esulted in such strens thoning of the
pposition as to indicate that the bat
q is approaching the point when the
rmies will soon be locked in o. giant
lruggle.
nd farther south the reinforced Ger
'ans are making n desperate effort to
old their positions.
The weather is clear this morning {
I'D this gave some satisfaction to the }
lousands of men engaged on the al e
cd side. The Indications; however, $
erc that the day would be one of cx- q
'ptional heat IN