The sun., 1918-08-31
u. S. ARTILLERY FIRE
HEAVY AND STEADY
Gunners Vary Direction and
Galore of Shells.


| WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN FRANCE,
Aug. 3o.-While the French troops on
the right and left Of the Americans on
| the front north OF Scissors struggled
| forward to-day the Americans sent thou
sands of rounds OF high explosive shells
and shrapnel into the German positions
Late this afternoon some progress was
made by the Americans In the region OF
Juvigny.
Since the Americans, appeared wednes-
| day the Germans have displayed stub
bornness and skill. They have good po-
stions and are defending them In
manner which would suggest that they
| might even attempt a serious counter
attack. The positions OF the Americans
are perhaps not SO good and the contest
| seems to have narrowed down to one of
comparative merits OF officers and men
of the two organizations.
| Before the day was over the Germans
had begun to show signs of weakening,
and observers reported troop move
ments which appeared to Indicate a re-
grouping and perhaps retirement.
! The orders to the Americans were to
! maintain a harassing fire through the
day, and even the minor attack of one
| flank was decided upon only after the
advance made by the French indicated
Its advisa bility.
| Over the field the American infantry
remained in the positions they had held
| last night. Dug in behind almost every
\ little rise on the plateau and on the
| hillside, they awaited the order to at
| tack. Closer to the German positions
| scores Of shell holes sheltered the men
| from the sweeping machine gun fire.
while further to the rear there were
| companies waiting to be called to their
support.
The artillery went into the action
| early in the morning. not in barrage,
| but firing first at one point in the Ger
man lines and then at another. in &C.
| cordance with reports indicating places
where the Germans were mobilizing or
| where there might be danger Of a con-
/ centration. Rarely. II ever. have the
American troops delivered over such
period so continuous a fire. 1t was of
| Furnishing character that must have
| wrought terrible destruction, and prob
ably much Generalization.
The lines are close together. and great
shells from the howltEers were mixed
with those OF the lighter character.
| while the big long range American guns
| sent shells far in the rear OF the enemy
| lines to places indicated by observers In
| the aerial service.
The American infantry between the
| lines was forced to become a part OF the
| action to-day by the determined Ger
! mans, whose long line OF machine gun
emplacements was supported by groups
| Of infantry. who fired at every appear
ance OF the Americans. 1t was day OF
sniping for them. especially the machine
gunners. Their fire did not rise in most
cases ten inches above the ground.
One gunner had the trick Of holding
the trigger until just three shots were
! fired. All day long his gun gave forth
| Its Tat, tat, tat" every burst being fol-
| lowed by a slight change in direction.
| large part Of those caught In the
ground sweeping fire were wounded in
the leg below the knee.
The Germans in front OF the Ameri-
cans at times were subjected not only
| to the fire of the American guns. but
to a supplemental raking from the
French. 1t was impossible to ascertain
the German casualties. but 1t Is GER
tain that they were heavy.
The big gunfire reached the maximum
| OF intensity. The roar of the artillery
rose in a great crescendo. The Amerl-
cans used no gas shells. The Germans
did. however. but In slightly smaller
| quantities than usual.
| American patrols are active each
| night, keeping in contact with the enemy
| along the Vesle. The American officers
continue to believe that the Germans
will soon be compelled to withdraw at
least as far as the Aisne. owing TO the
| constant pressure on the French and
British fronts. The Americans are de-
termined to be stepping on the heels of
| the Germans when they begin their re-
treat which, the officers say, lis coming
| soon or late
In three different patrol encounters
| in the vosges Wednesday night the Ger
\ ,lrixEn nff ashA he l.
! can fire became too hot for them. The
enemy casualties are unknown.
The German artillery fire in the
woevre has increased materially.
An enemy airplane was shot down
| to-day after II had attacked several
American observation balloons on the
front east Of st. Mihiel