The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1918-10-03
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PRISE.
Correspondent Tells Of the Battle to
the Northwest Of Verdun.

ives. of Verdun. Sept. 27.-(By the
terday's fighting along the IA -:
Associated Press.) - Details Of yes
terday's fighting along the line held
by one American corps shows that
the infantry overrun the first German
positions. The enemy first attempted
TO make stand on the line running
through Cuisy. but the Americans
pushed ahead and by SIS o'clock
Cuisy, was taken and detachments
pressed forward as far as the Fayel
farm during the forenoon.
Only few hours after the battle
oegan the correspondent started for
the front. Although American and
German shells had torn up the roads
out short time before engineer de-
tachments were already filing them
In and making them serviceable. In
the perfectly blue sky there were, as
long as daylight lasted. dozens of air
planes, which darted back and forth
over the lines and engaged in dar-
ing combats.
In spite OF statements made by
prisoners that the attack was fore
seen, 1t is evident that the enemy had
not anticipated the time, place or
character of the assault and had not
been able to make adequate prepara-
ton to meet it or to retire. He lacked
reserves to defend the positions be-
hind the front line. The American ad-
vance already has cut across the mar
row gauge lines which form the only
rail connection between the two main
railroads from the north.
Fine weather was of great assist
ance to the Americans in sweepipp
forward over very difficult ground.
The ground which has been taken is
very important. From the beginning
or the preliminary bombardment un-
I'll nightfal the weather was almost
ideal and gave ample opportunity for
the American airmen to play their
part. Soon after midnight last night,
however, the sky clouded over and
rain was falling so steadily this
morning that staff officer remarked
this is helping the Germans"
l. Enemy Fire Increases.
Last evening the German artillery
fire became heavier apparently in
dicating that he had retired to his
second line of resistance. This line
he is expected to try to hold more
tenaciously. Shells of big calibre fell
with regularity behind the advanced
American lines as the enemy at
tempted to silence the American bat
teries and damage the roads. These
hnwaC0r fol o1,
exception in woods and fields and did
not impede the American advance.
The Germans apparently made q des-
perate effort to withdraw the heavy
artillery captured by the Americans
In the region of Dannevoux but the
American lines of communication. In
this sector north of Dannevoux, in
the great elbow of the Meuse river.
four 21O-millimetre guns and eight
l50-millimeter pieces were captured
by the Americans.
To the northwest of Dannevoux the
American artillerists were firing upon
Brieulies and the roads to the south
and southwest. To the north the
American heavy guns were shelling
Vilosses and the bridge crossing the
Meuse river. To the northeast the
American heavy guns had the range
OF Sivry-sur-Meuse and the river
bridge. making 1t impossible for the
Germans to withdraw their equip
ment.
| In Dannevoux the Americans CAP
tured large amount Of German am
munition and also the personal bag
gage OF three German regiments. At
various points west Of the Meuse the
Americans captured many machine
guns. trench mortars and small ar
tillery pieces.
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