American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-07-05
AMERICAN TROOPS CAPTURE
THE VILLAGE OF VAVG

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I've Hundred Prisoners. Including
Seven Officers. Together With VA
chine Guns and Other Equipment,
Taken.
Tn a brilliant operation. alter hard
lighting. American troops on this front
Monday night captured the village OF
FauN. together with a large slice Of
the Paris highway west Of Chateau
Ihierry and two patches of wooded
land
The Americans took 500 German
prisoners, including seven officers. aud
captured quantity OF machine Suns
and other equipment.
Take Huns by Surprise.
Ia the VauX region the Americans
look the Germans completely by sur
prise. Most Of the prisoners we're
taken out of cellars and dugouts.
How many Germans were killed. OF
course. is unknown. but from the
number of dead in plain view at vari-
Gus places the total must have been
considerable
While the artillery preparation was
going on many American airplanes
flew high overhead. Some were pro-
tecting the observation balloons. while
others We're combing the skies to
keep off enemy machines.
Early Tuesday morning the Ameri-
can pilots again appeared for similar
duty and were soon contesting with
the enemy for supremacy in the air
A number of the aerial battles were
observed, but reports on the results
are not yet available.
Germans Yell for Help.
1t was exactly o'clock Monday
evening when the Americans went
over the top under the protection of
hail of machine gun bullets from our
machine gun barrages. The infantry
action was preceded by short but ter
rife artillery preparation When the
Germans saw that formidable attack
was developing many of those in out
posts yelled and ran toward the rear
To nests, from which a hot fire began
pouring.
The Americans paused for a mo-
ment while the automatic rifles and
machine guns with the advancing
troops fought duel in front of Vaux
briefly but effectively with the enemy
Then the Americans, whose number
was considerable, went on. most or
them running in their eagerness to
get at close quarters with the Ger
mans. AT the same time the Boche
began hurting gas shells 10 the rear OF
the American lines.
Break All Resistance.
Within a brief time the Americans
had wrested from the enemy the Bois
de la Roche and the woods adjoining
it, Then came word that the Ameri-
cans were in VauX. and finally, after
sharp lighting there in the streets and
houses, they overcame all resistance
and swept on beyond the village.
The Americans reached every one
OF their objectives. and by this opera
ton they have eliminated a salient
and have strai ghtened out their line
over an area of several miles the
Americans now have the enemy under
their guns.
Daylight Tuesday morning saw the
Americans digging in almost undis-
turbed far beyond the old German de
fense line To the rear patches Of
prisoners ana piles OF material are
going. The number of prisoners has
steadily mounted until it has reached
275. The guns and material have not
yet been tabulated
2 Yankees As Fighters.
The lighting qualities of the Ameri-
cans were certified to by virtually all
81 the prisoners taken. They said the
Americans fought like wild men,
] sweeping everything before them as
/ they plunged over the ground
So fierce was the attack that many
Germans who were i'm the zone as
saulted made their escape by running
when the fight got 100 hot for them
and they saw it was impossible either
to slow down or halt the American
plunge.