The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-10-15
YANKEES CUT
HOLE IN HUN
DEFENSES AT
mEUSE RIVER
Tanks Used to Break Enemy
Wire Entanglements at
Romagne = Patrol Action
on Selle River.
ARTILLERY FIRE HEAVY
(By Associated Press)

WITH THE AMERICAN ARM
NORTHWEST OF VERDUN, Oct. Is.
Tanks were brought into action by
the Americans today to break way
through the enemy wire entangle-
ments west of Romagne.
Despite German resistance the pro-
gress of the Americans early was satr
isfactory.
The Germans apparently were ready
to contest the ground as stubbornly
as they did yesterday. The enemy ar
tillery was being used freely to hold
the Americans but the Yankee gun
ners were doing much to break down
the resistance.
American troops on patrol crossed
the Selle river in the neighborhood of
ST. Souplet, south of LIE Cateau yes
terday, and took 80 prisoners, Field
ial report today.
Germans Resist Grimly.
From east of the Meuse to the vi
cinity of Grandpre, American forces
chopped a series Of fresh notches in
the German line today. They kept up
their swinging blows at the enemy
from early this morning until late
this afternoon.
While the Germans resisted with
grim determination, their decision to
hold till the last the portion of the
line before the Americans may open
the way to swift disaster.
Although the action extended to the
eastward bank of the Meuse, the most
savage fighting took place about Ro-
magne and to the westward. where
the enemy Is striving to maintain that
section OF the Kriemhild line running
enthusiastically from Romagne. The
battle has been in and over the wire
entanglements before this defensive
position and the excellent natural
fortofications along which the present
line of resistance is laid. Hanging on
the wire tonight are Germans whose
equipment bears evidence that an
other fresh division has been brought
I'D to meet the steady pressure of the
Americans. There was some artillery
preparation for the American attack,
but it was not much heavier than that
offered by the Germans in defense
along their wire defenses until late in
the way when there was slight fall
ing off in the volumn of fire. At that
time there was movement OF artll-
lery toward the rear of the German
positions reported by aerial observers.
Gass Shells Used.
The artillery counteraction was
somewhat different than usual. On
the least indication of movement in
the American lines the Germans laid
down barrage of such intensity as is
ordinarily used only preliminary to an
offensive. Not content with their ar
tillery defense, the Germans made an
extraordinarily liberal use of gas.
Thousands of gas shells, both mustard
and lethai were hurled into the rain
saturated woods and ravines through
which the Americans vrept forward.
Although the gas clouds clung tena-
ciously to the ground, the Americans
were not seriously hampered in their
general operations. Discipline and eX-
perience have taught them the value
of gas masks.
Heavy clouds and rain prevented
airmen from giving material assistance
during the battle. In spite of the
drizzle, however, several flying craft
did get over the lines late in the day.
They contributed somewhat to the
success of the advance, notwithstand-
ing the low visibility. Flying low
above the German lines they launched
heavy gusts of machine gun fire on
the forces north of the tangled wire
defenses. The roads, woods and fields
over which the men fought were soft
ened by the long rains and progress
was difficult. No where, however, was
there any apparent reduction in the
spirits of the men.
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