Norwich bulletin., 1918-08-30
A Severe Battle
 COnfrOntS Americans

With the American Army in France, Aug. 29.-(By A P).-Late this after noon the Americans held positions in the fighting line in the Soissons re- zion extending in northerly direction from Chavigny.
 All the skill of General Won, Scherwin, commanding the Seventh Guard Division, is being exercised to hold back the Americans at their point in the line north of Soissons and save the Germans from the menace they would be under if the allies occupied the plateau extending further toward the east.
 Recovering before the day ended from the shock of the early morning attack, Won Schwerin brought into play his artillery and other resources in a desperate effort to check the movement. Equally determined ef- tions in front of the French divisions on the right and left of the Ameri- cans.
 Reports from point on the line where the attack is in progress indicate that the Americans are confronted by what is believed by many to be one of the most determined stands yet taken by the Germans, who realize that a break at any point probably would be fol- lowed by disaster.
 The opinion seems to be that every yard of territory gained will be bit terly contested and that it is not inn probable that villages and other, ob- jectives will be subjected to the fate of capture and recapture many times before their possession is undisputed. The rapidity with which the gains were made by the Americans and French early in the day was not dup 1 Heated in the afternoon, when the bat tie settled into a strong artillery duel in which the guns of both sides fired often at direct targets and at unus- ually close range.
 The country which has been the bat 1 tlefield almost four years again is the scene of a conflict which has started out with the promise of being one most stubbornly fought Tonight the sky is dotted with flashes of explod- ing shells, while the roar of the bar rage and counter barrage must be audible almost to Paris. In the back ! areas shells. are falling behind tht 1 Americans, but not so frequently as al many times previously. The Germans apparently are using all their guns anC energy in attempting to tear down the determined lines of their advancing enemy.
 Two captured officers when quest toned today by intelligence officers at tempted to give the impression tha l little resistance would be made, aSSur. ing the officers that there were few machine guns left emplaced. While 1 telling the story however, it was be l ing refuted within their own hear ing.
 How many hundreds of thousands o these little guns the Germans hav' immediately in front of the American l is not known, but the number is quit up to the lately developed German tactics. Every hillside, ravine ant wood crackles with their fire wheneve lthey are approached. And it has beer in the face of their destructive often sive that the Americans, and tn French as well, have been moving. 1 Comparatively little gas has beel employed by the enemy. perhaps be cause the wind has not been alto gather favorable to it's use. Ther have arrived at the dressing station Q few cases of men suffering iron mustard gas, but most of them en countered it in shell holes, hollow and depressions where it was old bu still effective.
 As the day passed the visibility i'm proved and the aviators of both side became more active. Those of the al lies rendered valuable assistance sil observation work.
 The Germans today concentrate much of their efforts on the destruc ton of tanks.
 Just back of the lines there is
 mixture of French and husky youn Americans Truck trains and lon. lines of artillery crowd all the roads but everywhere there is that precisio, of organization which prevents a jar for more than brief intervals, this par of the machine co-ordinating well wit that fighting a few miles beyond
 German prisoners were scarce at tn American lines today Less than
 dozen were brought in to divisio, headquarters, although a few other passed through the dressing stations The wounded are being given exactl the same treatment accorded the Am erican wounded and even are bein
 treated in turn of arrival.