New-York tribune., 1918-10-01

mands the entire country for miles
around, being located on a hill $50
yards in height, whereon perch the
wrecked buildings that were once Mont
| faucon.
Ianks Storm Height
The division intrusted with the capt
urc OF the stronghold advanced front
ally. outstripping some ninety Amer
lean tanks accompanying the dough-
boys. Storms Of machine gun fire held
up the advance. 1t seemed that every
building was crammed with the mur-
derous little weapons on which the
enemy depends for his principal de-
fence. The tanks fell to the rear be-
cause Of the soggy nature of the
ground. some Of them begging utterly.
Finally the infantry commanders,
without communication with their rear,
decided on bold manoeuvre. One col
,.mn deployed to the right, the other to
the lett. The machine-gun fire burst
forth again. The troops forged on.
Meantime, the enemy saw tanks in
fiocks coming. Our outf1anking in
fartry advanced, swept past both sides
OF the great hill, and Joined up be-
hind. To the surprise of the troops,
TIE machine-gun fire almost ceased,
ind as they closed in, they found the
enemy ready to surrender. The tanks
cid not come into action, but the sight
Of them was enough.
1t was here among the ruins that az
many as twenty-five machine guns, both
light and heavy, were found in single
nests. Northwest Of Montfaucon, clev-
erly hidden on the hillside, battery
OF four long range naval guns was
captured.
Observatory Shclled
In front of Montfauccn Sunday morn
ing it was possible to see the dough-
| boys going forward in waves under
heavy shell fire Tanks preceded or
followed them az the mud permitted.
The enemy was shelling large obser-
vatory in the centre Of the village at
the time with the obvious intention o1
destroying the powerful telescope from
which the Crown Prince is said to have
watched the struggles for Verdun in
1915 The instrument is the highest
production Of the optical art, built en-
/ tirely Of brass. it's glass alone weighing
100 pounds. So far no direct hits have
( been made on the observatory.
The dense weather, which changed
20 rain, soon blotted out the advanc-
ing troops and tanks. but the roar of
| our own and the German artillery WAS
constant, and the cracklc Of machine
guns from both sides made any point
Of the compass exceedingly dangerous
if precautions were mt taken. The
fight drifted nnrthward and northwest
yard to the vicinity of the village OF
Cierres, where, by q frontal attack and
simni itaneous outhanking man9uvre
to tilo wcst OF thn shelltorn houses,
she Americans closed In. Here again
machine guns sputtercd through the
mist until thf doughbpys worked their
way into the streets and in house-to-
house encounters silencad eNEry gun.
Enemy Cnlmter Attacks
Suddenly from this small Buugs
Wood, 500 yards square. to The east
of the village. machine gun and rifle
fire broke forth, and the enemy was
seen coming forward In a counter at
tack. A small apple orchard north of
the village aso became alive witt, ma
chine gun fir, from the trees. Ac-
cording To the infantry captain, whp
watched tbs story up fur mn to-day,
t}r cnurtrr attack came forward into
cur newly vnn pusitnils, hut not into
tl.e village itself.
Herr Americans wiO were taking
part in their first aeriuus seriHs Of
battles mt the enen1y face To faca and
ruutad him. Bayonsts WeNp usad to
bloody advantage by thess ynungs ters,
who befoye knew only the thaoretirnl
use of the weapon. Hand granades fiew
in hnth diYectlu1n until the enemy was
unabfe TO stand tho gaff and went back
| into the wood and through il, tins
doughhoys in hot pursuit.
Reugc Wood is similar to many Of
ths wooded strongnolds found in the
81. Mihial salient. It was fortified
with counre - works and elaborate dug
out. II was evidently an officers re-
reut, although nothing was found ul-
dsrs~-ound which indicated a hurried
officers and soldiara. The officsrs had
fled first with their helnngings.
Lieutenant Captrsd
South Of Cierges at a snaIl cross
road Boclre lieutsuant was found IN
a connrete dugnut, w4pars hs had BEEN
olS5 string arrangement The gun was
III position in the centre Of the road.
The soldier, who was killed. evidently
crept out occasionally t. place a ncr
cartridge belt in the gun wre-, o1,e was
exhausted. The Officer raised hyss hands
when the doughhoys covered HIM.
~ another mace an American nra;cr
in i,n third WAVE ran into y 1rachi1ra
gun position. where two enemies raised
their hands and yelled "kamarad!'
They had exhausted their ammunition.
Two fistd guns, which wcre frsd down
tho ruud point blank afsar our troops
rAnae1, wexs cnrturnd. Tfay allnwad