New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-08-14
on
Sornme Wipe
OutGunNests
'Doughboys" Couldn't Pass
Around Gressaire Wood.
So They Went Through
By Wilbur Forrest
Special Cable to Ths Tribune

WITH THE AMERICAN FORCES
ON THE BRITISH FRONT, Aug. 10
The first action of American troops on
the historic River Somme contributed d
only a. trife to the magnificent Franco
British victory, but it showed once
again the calibre of the American
troops now in France, who weather
hail of lead from all directions without
f1inching
Some Of the Americans are hugging
the north bank of the Somme to- day.
British tanks preceded them in the at
tack. A rolling barrage went ahead of
both tanks and doughboys, who fol-
lowed the sharp contour of the Somine
to the southwark.
Here the Americans found Malard
Wood and Celestin Quarry, where the
enemy had installed scores of machine
guns. Some OF the attackers fell, but
others forged on, only stopping to
round up prisoners or fight it out with
The enemy machine gunners. The
Americans then turned south toward
the village of Chipilly, which was liter
ally filled with machine guns. Chipilly
was conquered, in company with the
British, and the line passed into Gres-
saire Wood-the hardest position of
all
Process Was Slow.
Again machine guns we're encoun-
tered everywhere, in the underbrush,
under trees. A maneuvre to pass by
the wood on both sides, leaving it
isolated behind, failed because of the
deadly streams of lead issuing from
every side. 1t was slow process clean
ing this wood through which our boys
worked their way up the hillside,
through the brush, bombing their way
into and beyond the machine guns, nest
after nest. Less than three hours after
the attack began the first objectives
had been reached and the positions
consolidated. The second objectives
were Immediately assigned, and in the
darkness the troops easily occupied the
second positions in forty minutes
Here again our men consolidated their
gains. The enemy attempted no coun-
ter action during Friday night, and on
Saturday the Americans turned over
the lines to the Australians, who con-
tinued the advance on Sunday
Enemy Cannot Stand Pressure.
After four years of warfare the
enemy cannot stand the pressure ex-
erted by these youthful Americans,
fighting with the rejuvenated Franco
British forces, for many months more
This is the opinion of every Allied
officer I have talked with during the
past two weeks. Never has complete
confidence in Allied ability to conquer
the German Empire been so strong,
and I believe that by their uniform
dash and bravery the American units
are partially responsible. The Ameri-
can doughboy seems to be of one cali
bre only. SO far, no weak spots have
been discovered in the American chain.
| saw some of these boys in a British
hospital clearing station to-day. AL
most to a man they were cheerful and
vvacious, despite their varied wounds.
Their only regret was that they were
unable to stay with the other dough-
boys until all the detectives had been
reached.
A few miles down the road l saw
several thousand prisoners from Wiir-
temberg, whose faces were as cheerful
as the wounded doughboys. They were
visibly glad that they were through
With thA War-