The sun., 1918-10-14
FIGHTERS NEEDLESS
OF ENEMY PEACE BID
Americans Battle On Undis-
turbed by Germany's Of
fer to Quit.
WORD PASSED TO FRONT
Only Effect Is to Create q
Doubt and Increase De-
termination to Win.
BY tAs Associated Press.


WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY NORTH
WEST OF vERpuS, Oct. 13.-The syn
chronized crash of the big guns and the
crackles of rifles and automatics heard
on the greater part Of the American
front to-day reflected the attitude Of
the army as regards Germany's an
nouncement that she IL willing to ac-
cept President Wilson's peace terms. 1t
was obvious that the forces Of Ger
many and the Allies, particularly the
Allies, regarded that their part In the
great drama still Is to fight
Whether the news of their Govern
ment's announcement Of willingness to
concede President Wilson's terms has
reached the Germans is not known, but
the greater part of the American Army
was given as early as possible all infor-
nation In possession Of general head
quarters. From corps headquarters the
and from there to the men in reserve
positions and on the fighting line.
Majority Express Doubt.
The effect produced was what might
have been expected. There were rare
instances of outbursts OF enthusiastic
cheering. but for every man who 50 dis
played his emotion there were hun
dred whose only comment was an ex-
preston Of doubt as to the honesty of
Germany's intentions.
There was nothing in the days opera
lions to convince tho Americans that
the war was over. Before daylight the
Germans displayed more than usual &C.
uvity in Smelling certain positions. East
| and west Of the Mouse they brought up
| fresh forces and counter attacked. All
| Of them broke down before the violent
firing of the Americans
As the day fore on tho fighting de-
veloped greater intensity along the
western part Of the line. but II was
confined almost wholly to the artillery
wings. the American FIRE finally attain
ing the proportions OF barrage. although
it was not followed UP by infantry at
tack.
| An increased percentage Of defective
ammunition appears to have been used
to-day by the Germans. Montfaucon
was shelled rather heavily. but a check
late to-day showed that 80 per cent
Of the missiles were 'duds."
| The German prisoners in American
hands were told early to-day Of their
| country's peace offering Instead Of
adding to their gloom the general effect
was to stimulate them to some Nveli-
ness. The good humor OF the prisoners
was lowered somewhat, at least in one
cage. by the suggestion that they might
be detained until French villages are
restored
Along the roads in the trenches the
American soldiers were disposed to re-
gard the peace development as a matter
of course--one for satisfaction, but not
for premature rejoicing. The fighting
at the Marne and on the Scissors, St.
Mihiel and other sectors has developed
in the American soldier a grimness that
1t would be difficult to explain. There
were few comments on the peace situa-
ton as the business of warfare pro-
ceeded to-day.
| "Up to Heinie to Quit"
We'll. IL Heinie wants to quit he can
do so. But it's up to him to do the
quitting" was the most general ex-
preston used by the American troops
While more spectacular progress has
been made on certain other parts of the
battle front It Is known that the allied
| commanders are satisfied with the work
| of the Americans. They have been
placed here on what many regard as
a most difficult sector. 1t has not beer
their part to make great strides forward
so much as II has been to destroy Ger
| man divisions which have been thrown
into the battle line in a manner reflect
Ing the determination to hold back theiI
| enemies at a point where the loss o,