Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-08-08
ShrapnoI, Machine Gun Fire
and Waves Of Gas Prove
ineffective and Yankees
Sweep Across River
GERMANS EXPECT TO MAKE
SESXT STAND ALONG AISNE
DetaChment of TeutonS,
%Somewhat More Than a
Company, Almost Totally
Destroyed by PerShing Men
tpv soEnlso 1oo0sAl .rselA, lsA,so wlprl

10y MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED wiRal
with the American Army on the
iAisne-Marne Front, Aug. 7 (by the
Associated Press) Under an inferno
| of shrapnel and machine gun fire and
waves of gas the Americans forced
their way over the Vesle river last
night and early this morning, while
rain varying at times from a drizzle
to downpour drenched the battle field
| French troops already have gained
| positions on the American left and the
Joint movement has straightened out
the line from a point west of Bazoehes
| to Fismes.
! The Germans lost considerably in
casualties. Prisoners stories tended
previously taken that the Germans
expect to continue their retreat until
the Aisne is reached.
! The attack began between 4 and
o'clock Tuesday afternoon. BY mid
night those on the right had reached
| their detectives. the main highway
east and west extending along the
| foothills that rise north of the river
and became a series of terraces to the
Aisne.
The left wing was delayed but it
also reached the line shortly before
| s o'clock this morning
! Artillery Is Still Active.
| The artillery on both sides Is still
| fighting duels and the Germans con-
! tinue small arm resistance. But every
hour the positions of the French and
Americans are more secure.
| Under cover Of barrage the engi-
neers threw bridges over the stream.
10 ha nff txIn RnA mn in
position, working them downward to-
ward the bridges. The challenges
were accepted by the German artii-
! lery. and in few minutes the inter-
mittent reports of the guns which had
been heard all day were merged into
one great roar.
| The clouds, which had lifted slight
Ily reappeared just before the attack
was launched and the action was con-
Quoted without much advantage In
observation by aircraft.
| When the order for the advance
was given the men. for the most part.
swept forward in open formation.
The Germans launched a counter-at-s
tack without success,
The men on the American right
! fought their way along the chosen
routes Some of them floundered
used the bridges that we're still stand
ing.
German Company Destroyed.
one detchmcnt of Germans. some
what more than company moved
forward into the open. Here the
! American machine guns caught them.
and, sweeping them with bullets, de-
stroyed them almost totally,
The Germans tried to strike the
Americans disconeerting counter
blow with a considerable force by
| plunging down ravlne leading to the
! river Their path had been cleared by
theirI artillery and they might have
succeeded in reaching the Americans,
| but the movement had been reported
| to tho artillery stations south of the
Vese and from them there swept into
| the advancing column such mass of.
| shells that the formation was quickly
| broken.
| At another point detachment OF
| Germans stood until the Americans
| were upon them. Then 1t became a
| hand -to-h hand conflict, the only ono
OF the kind during the battle, In the,
mud and in darkness where the COM
| batants were barely able to distin-
| gush each other, they fought 1t out.
! The Americans won.
| Enemy Uses Big Guns.
! The Americans on the left failed to
reach their objectives until they had
called for a second barrage. Under it's
| cover they rallied and struggled for
ward to the chosen positions.
The Germans, in attempting to re-
| pulse the attack, used guns of n and
! 105 caliber and minnenwurfers. They
| had them on the higher ground, con-
! siderably to the rear of the battle line.
| The American guns did excellent work.
not only in covering the advance but in
| breaking up formations. especially one
large assemblage of infantry.