The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-09-02
AMERICANS IN BELGIUM
CAPTURE VOORMEZEELE
TOWN PILE OF DEBRIS,
BATTLE, DOG FIGHT"
Ground Deep With Dead Huns,
Yanks' First Combat in
Belgium.

With the British Army In Flanders
Sunday. Sept, Lin their first fighting
in Belgium the americans captured
voormexeele and several strong Ger
man positions in that immediate vicin-
ity. On their entrance into Voorme-
zeele the invaders found that all that
remained of the town was piles of de-
bris. for the shell fire had been so in
tense that hardly one brick was left
standing upon another. AS the Amcri-
cans advanced the German rear guards
from what little cover remained opened
up with their machine guns. but these
were quickly silenced without much
trouble. Elsewhere in the same local
ity the Americans also advanced the
line. keepitg in contact with the re-
treating enemy. Counter attacks by
the Germans resulted in their gaining
little more than a slight footbold,
which In every case was quickly loos-
ened by British and American reat-
tacks. In most places the Germans did
not even get foothold. for the ad-
vancing formations melted away under
hurricanes of fire. There has been es-
pecially heavy fighting In 1.-THE whirl-
pool of the battle around. Bullecourt
and Hendicourt, where the British are
holding positions almost resting against
the Drocourt- -Queant, or Wotan, line.
Thrice Won and Lost.
1t is believed that Bullecourt itself
has thrice been lost and won in the
past two days. First the British were
in the town and then the Germans
While one side had the control the
machine sgunners and bombers from
the other would filter in and get the
position, and then the place would be-
come most active. From ruin to ruin,
through cellars and through old and
new trenches the fighting has contin-
ued. and all Of the time almost the
same tactics were being followed in
the country surrounding. In the Ian
guage of the British soldiers, 1t has
been dog fight" here for two days.
The British have retired only when
hordes of Germans appeared. but their
retirement usually has been to the po-
sitions where they could pour machine
gun bullets into the enemy. Heavy
losses were inflicted on the Germans.
Just now 1t appears that Bullecourt
and Hendicourt again are in British
hands and that the cellars. dugouts
and hiding places are being moppcd
up. Similar fighting has been going
on In the villages of Ecoust-St Mein
and Longaate and these places also are
in the possession of the British.
Piled With Enemy Dead.
The ground in front Of the British
lines throughout this region Is piled
with dead Germans. for the British
have not hesitated to temporarily re-
tire slightly in the face Of strong en-
envy attacks when 1t appeared that
their own strength could thereby be
and at the same time they
could get an opportunity to mow
down masses Of Germans. These tao
tics have had most disastrous result
for the foe. and that the British have
not lost anything is shown by the fact
that their casualties continue extreme
" light. while all positions are finally |
retained.
At Mont ST. Quentin the Germans
have counter attacked again and again
ut great cost, but the line there re-
mains intact.
The enemy seems to have removed |
everything he had In Peronne.
FOR ne realized that the town surely
must come into British hands soon. but
nevertheless there was fighting there
before the place was captIired There
nas been more hard f'ghtinr around |
Lc Trarsloy which fell to the British
! few days ago.
Stationed In Cemetery.
The Germans here were firmly estab-
ished in the cemetery at the edge OF
he town, but the place has been
'tormed and captured and the Ger
mans driven south and cast.
Late yesterday the enemy delivered
powerful counter attacks cnst of From
court, on the BapauInc- -Cambrai road. '