The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-08-30
Americans Force Germans to
Fall Back Over the
Plateau.
MANY HEAVY GUNS USED
German Positions Shells Vigorously
Before Infantry Advances-Anti-
Tank Guns Used by Huns Arc
Crushed Into the Mud by
French Machines.

With the American Army in France,
Aug. 3O.-Late in the afternoon the
: Americans held positions in the fight
ing line In the scissors region extend
Ing In a northly direction from Cha
vigny.
Americans Take JuvIgny.
The Americans took the village Of
Juyigny after bitter resistance. Their
positions extended north toward Cha
vigny, when the battle had developed
into one Of the most desperate In which
Americans had yet fought.
The Yankees advance was slowed
up by the bitter defense of the Ger
mans as the afternoon advanced.
Yanks Aided by Tanks.
Accompanied by feet of tanks and
covered by heavy artillery barrage.
the Americans swept forward against
the German lines that slowly and re-
luctantly fell back over Juvigny pla-
teau. The little operation carried out
Wednesday by the French and Ameri-
cans had been merely preparatory to
the attack which began at seven
o'clock in the morning.
The firing was continuous through
out the night on both sides, the Ger
man guns being especially active. The
rains Of the early evening ceased be-
fore the ground had been converted
Into mud, so, when the orders were
given the men moved forward unim-
peded.
The German positions were shelled
most vigorously by heavy guns, NOR
tars and light pieces, firing almost
point blank, as well as by long range
naval guns, which searched the posi-
tions far and near. And then the In
fantry advanced.
Opposed BY Machine Guns.
UP over the plateau the infantry
men went toward Juvigny and across
the little railroad running north and
south. The Germans Immediately be-
gan to employ the tactics of similar
retreats. leaving their rear defended
by line Of machine guns hidden be-
hind every clump Of brush, promon-
tory and woods. Only a few detach-
ments Of infantry were left, the army
again adopting measures calculated to
save the most men possible.
From Couronne woods and another
little wood stahding like sentinels be-
tween Juvigny and the American lines,
the German guns delivered q deadly
cross fire.
The frontage assigned to the Ameri.
cans was less than two miles. That
part In which Juvigny Is located was
the scene Of dramatic tank drive.
Under the cover Of artillery the light
French tanks flirted along both sides
OF the path up to the little place.
smashing down one machine gun nest
after another, inspite Of the employ
ment by the Germans of their new
tang gun, sort Of super-Mauser.
Allies Control the Air.
This gun is virtually identical with
the Mauser, except that it fires bull
let little more than half an inch In
diameter. This, it is calculated, can
pierce the tank and possibly injare
some vital part Of the engine. But In
S&AV QotA VA t1AO U0NUdCIAS udC1lluSS
there now lie broken or smashed into
the earth scores Of these guns.
Above the lines the allied planes
were seen all forenoon, attempting to
conduct observations in spite of the
murky atmosphere, and occasionally a
German plane dared to dart through.
but In every case it was forced to re-
tire hastily.
Deny Huns Captured ESQ.
With the American Army on The
Vesle Front, Aug. BO.-The Americans
early in the day along the vesle front
sent over a large number OF pre3ectiea
and gas shells against the Gerrpe,7,ss~
who replied feebly.
Patrols were active ON both s,aas
during the night. The fighting nna
remains unchanged.
American officers deuy the German
assertion that $50 Americans were
sna0e prisoner IN recent ffRhtins. cav
Ing that only a few of their men are