Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-11-04
Yankees Pass
Stenay on Meltse


continued from PAGE One
this sector yesterday. The number of
guns and other booty is steadily grow
ing. The right flank of the American
line is now at Halles. on the heights
overlooking the Meuse River,
American troops at . O'Clock last
evening had advanced their left flank
north of Authe in close cooperation
with the French forces which have
been lighting then way. eastward on
the bend in the Aisne River. Further
cast. American forces were in Aut-
ruche and their patrols were reported
as tar north as Brieullcs-surBar
In the center of the line the village
Of 1'osse was passed early yesterday
and then in quick succession Barri-
court. Nouart. lie Champy IIaute and
lie Champy Bas were occupied by the
Americans The advance OF General
Pershing's troops has reached the lit
tie lake In the center of Belval wood.
On the extreme right the Americans
were north of Montigny Devant-
Sassy. From there the line ran TO
the Meuse River.
Yesterday was not a day of fight
ing as much as of pursuit. The
Germans are not retreating in Eyeat
disorder and their withdrawal cannot
be called a rout, but il is certain that
the general staff and the field officers
have lost control to certain extent.
At Heels Of Enemy
The left wing continues it's advasce
with little interruption even after
darkness falls. The Americans reach
ed Boult-auX-Bois at 4 o'clock yester-
day morning. Their patrols were at
the heels of the retreating enemy, who
were heard leaving the northern end
of the town by wagon and who had
escaped by the time the Americans
had made their way through the town
in the gloom.
There was some opposition espe.
cially artillery fire and rearguard fight.
ing. at Barricourt and Nouart. but it
was quickly swept away. After clean
ing up Tally. the Americans took Hill
26S and a little later occupied Les
Fonteneles farm.
The village of lie champy Iiaute was
taken early yesterday morning, marking
an advance of five miles northward
from Bayonville The Americans did
not stop there but pressed on.
one division which on Saturday cap
tured seven,y-nine officers and 217o
men. sixty machine guns and twelve
guns of seventy seven caliber was re-
ported TO have largely increased its
booty.
The troops on the right, like those on
the left and center, also continued to
nave forward although less rapidly
than the others. The heights of Mon
tigny. four miles north of Clery-Le-
Petit were reached at noon Sunday.
When the Americans occupied the height
it was seen that the Germans had evac-
uated the region Immediately to the
north.
From the left flank 10 the right
there are evidences that the German
officers are trying to hold their men to
their task but reports from different
sources agree that difficulties have
arisen which the Germans have found
impossible to overcome.
The Argonne region has been clear
ed OF the enemy by the French and
American forces.
Retreating Boches Choke Roads
East of the NIeuse from north of
Remoiville. where the roads are choked
with retrcatine Germans, TO north of
Stenay. on the east bank of the river.
where the railway yards are filed with
troop trains leaving for the rear. the
Germans are falling back. From Re
moiville to Stenay is about eight and
one-half miles. The artillery fire from
the hills behind the German lines seems
to indicate the reluctance of those in
command to yield to the evident desire
or the men in the line TO withdraw. !
Equal activity is displayed behind the
American lines, but it is of opposite
character. Far to the rear the roads
are filed not only with slowly NOV
ing conveys. but with truck trains filled
with iroops being rushed forward to
support those who in some cases in
trucks are keeping up the fast pace set
by the retiring Germans.
The American losses so far have been
light. compared with the
size of the operation. There has been
lighting by the enemy. but of II half
hearted sort. except in few cases
where for brief intervals strong stands
were made by little garrisons left
behind
one of these was at Barricourt. which
was occupied just after o'clock yes
terday morning. the southern edge of the
village having been taken Saturday
night, The distance between the Ameri-
cans and the Germans was less than
800 yards. ordered to advance the
Americans plunged down the streets
with fixed bayonets, shooting as they
went. The Germans stood their ground
only for few moments. II was a bloody
Only 4 few of the Germans
escaped.
woods and ravines between enemy ma
chine gun crews and the advancing |
Americans. Throughout yesterday the
American artillery heavily bombarded !
the German lines along the entire front |
The American and French troops |
yesterday completed the clearing of |
the enemy out of the EOurgonne Woods !
by their junction at Noirval. They |
then pushed forward northeastward /,
and captured in rapid succession Cha
and the Bois Duchene.
where the northern edge OF the wood
was reached.
The action at this point was predomi.
lantly French. but with the Ameri-
,ans assisting with patrols, who first
pushed westward to effect IA liaison and /
hen turned northeastwald with the
French until they met other Ameri-
pans near Chatillon and pinched out |
mother slice of terrian.