The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-10-16
YANKEES SMASH
AHEAD 800 YARDS
Widening Breach in Krlemhi|de
Line of Defense North
west of Verdun.
TANKS GIVE SUPPORT
Advances Made in Face Of Ma
chine Gun Fire-Are Now
Across Aisne.

with the American Army Northwes
Of Verdun, Oct. 16.-(11 a. m.)-Eas
OF the Meuse river the Germans hav
been pushed back to the Boise de Il
Grande and Montague by successful
American thrusts.
Northwest of Romagne. the Ameri
cans are now holding the edge o.
Bois de Bantheville.
The enemy Is fighting tenaciously a
all points, making frequent mino
counter attacks in an effort to confus
the Americans.
American engineers are doing valian
service In detecting and destroying
enemy traps and mines, assuring thu
safety Of the d.ughboys.
The massing of machine guns Is thu
feature Of the enemy's defense on al
fronts. Since the series of German
defeats began the boches have beer
pinning their hopes on rapid fire
weapons which are being produced In
staggering numbers.
Machine gun nests are the enemy's
biggest asset.
With the American Army Northwest
of Verdun, Oct. 15.-(Night.) .)-Ameri-
can troops, heavily supported by tanks
artillery and airplanes. advanced a
mile today, and forced another cross
ing of the Aire river In the second
stage of the ne battle which began
on the Argonne forest -Meuse river
front yesterday.
The hole in the Kriemhilde line was
widened and the gains won yesterday
were made more secure. The biggest
gain was made ny an American divi-
sion that crossed the Aire east OF
Grand Pre- and advanced mile north
of the town.
Grand Pre- Is still held by the Ger
mans. ut had previously been re-
ported that French patriots entered
the city,
Cross Aire~ River.
The same division that crossed the
Aire, captured st. Juvin early in the
afternoon. Eighty prisoners were
taken there.
In the face of violent artillery and
machine gun fire. other American
units smashed ahead 900 yards. widen
ing the breach in the Kriemhilde line,
the Germans second line Of defense
northwest of Verdun.
Hill No. 299 was carried In spec
tacular storm attack after strong night.
ing. The Germans made repeated
counter attacks without avail.
In addition to defying whitening
enemy fire, the Americans penetrated
wide wire defenses in the center OF
! the lin, extending from the sectors or
st. Georges ct t-Landres to st. Georges,
The second day of the new Ameri-
can push was marked by battles be-
tween tanks.
Enemy Tanks SiIenced.
Enemy tanks were scattered or de-
stroyed by the accuracy Of the Ameri-
lean artillery. Airmen co-operated
lin this work.
The Yankee fiers were forced to fly
How, owing to the clouds. and their
Nights were made through a hail OF
machine gun bullets.
The breaking of the Kriemhilde line
was a big achievement for the Ameri-
leans. But it Is doubted II the Ger
mans plan any immediate retreat on
big scale north of Verdun. Gen. Won
IDer Marwitz. commanding the Ger
Imans opposite the Americans, Is
|1uoted as saying that perhaps the
3sate of the German nation depends
upon the defense of this 'front.' That
probably accounts for the determined
Resistance the Gel mans, are making.
prisoners said that the American ar
|illery played havoc with German
hanks, especially north of Cunel.
Bag Hun Prisoners.
! One American corps has captured
Lie German officers and S,572 men
Iince the big scale fighting broke out
this zone in September
! Heavy losses have been Inflicted |
tpon the Germans III that time. One |
Herman guard regiment was depleted /
10 1000 rifles. 4 company Of grena-
HERS, was reduced to seventy men. 4
N company of guard fuslieers was cut
[own to fifty.
/ The principal American activity this
'aorning was CT the left of the battle
Eector. There WAS some activity in
Ihe district cast OF tho River Mouse.
Fhe enemy threw gas shells into the
Ehatillon woods last night and bonn
fardcd Tuileries farm.
The advance OF the Americans yes
erday has been maintained every
Ehere, and some slight gains were re-
orded during tho night. The forward
fements Of the American troops, con-
Esting Of machine gunners, are occu-
lying organized shell holes.
Seeks to Gain Time.
The line in Flanders today reached'
he outskirts Of Thourout and the
Fynendale wood, just to the west,
be Belgian war office announced to-
ESHts 4Hc lCuCu IcuCucu luc OuI- |
|kirts of Lichtervelde while the Brit
IN captured Menin and Wervicq and
fached the outskirts Of Courtrai. In
no days the allies have taken more
an 10000 prisoners and more than
20 guns.
All counter attacks were easily re-
hlsed. They had the appearance, be-
Euse Of the small number of men en-
Ioyed, of being efforts to throw con-
Ision into the American ranks in
!der to gain time.
hThe confusion among the German
hits, due to the amalgamation Of vari-
Is organizations, increases daily.
zen this method does not prevent the
Fength Of the units from decreasing
badly.
IThe Germans today continued their
distance against the advance of the
herican forces on this front the
length of the opposition fully equal !
liz that Of yesterday.
with machine guns, some artillery {
e and minor counter attacks the I
Irmans this morning interposed des- Q
rate resistance to Pershing's men all t
bng the line. 7