The Washington times., 1918-10-05
ENEMY DEALT
HEAVY BLOWS
ONW|DEFRONT
BYAMER|CANS
Continued from First PaEe.)

Continued from First PaEe)
French advances. the possibilities OF
complete relief OF Rheims.
West of the Meuse, General Bull
lArd's corps has reached the Kriem
hide line. Troops from Illinois, Wis
consin. Pennsylvania. Virginia, and
West Virginia, in a pivoting move
n.ent. advanced more than a mile and
a quarter Regulars in cooperation
progressed more than three, miles.
Ynnks Overcome Difficulties.
The attack west of the Meuse be-
gan. at $50 yesterday morning, and
by mid-afternoon Hill 24O.' Gesnes.
FIeville, Chesery. and La Forges had
fallen. Severe counter attacks in the
center were repulsed with heavy
losses and the advance was fully
maintained.
The attack was carried on success
fully in the ArgOnne despite the
greatest difficulties. The Boche had
felled trees and strung them with
barbed wires. Machine '.un nests
were cleverly concealed in this tanglc
Tanks cleaned these up.
Numerous explosions of ammuni-
tion dumps in the rear of the enemy
lines throughout the day gave addi-
tional evidence of heavy losses suf-
fered by the Boche from our artillery
fire.
The attack, starting at some points
without artillery preparation. surprised
the Germans, who were disposed of
quickly. But the enemy's heavy concen-
tration of artillery and machine guns
afforded a general stubborn resistance
all day. The Kriemhilde stellung was
reached first by a pivoting attack,
swinging northwestward from the
Meuse.
StrnIght Punches Count.
Every kilometer gained was won by
straight American punching power,
against strong enemy divisions, which
included Guards. Two Guard divisions
have been badly cut up on the American
front. and one has Deen nlIed up with
Landwehr troops.
The Franco-American attack east Of
Rheims was pushed vigorously. the
French attacking on the American left
and following up our advance.
A determined enemy counter-attack
was repulsed after q considerable ad-
vance had been made by the Franro-
Americans, The boche put down a bar
io6N dAAa AAAAdAAAg 6lATlcu ONGIN DuN
2 counter-barrage, together with rapi1
machine gun and rife fire. sent the Ger
mans tumbling back with heavy losses
The doughboys did not bulge an inch
from their new lines.
The .enemy's hold was broken bv
the capture OF Blanc Mont, which
was taken with surprising rapidity
considering its strength. It was q
vast tangle of wires, trenches anil
trees which had been improved and
consolidated for the last four years.
Before it was a slope which had been
stripped as bare as a skeleton. This
debouched into an open plain.
Hospitals Go Forward.
The Franco-American artillery laid
down a barrage on the road leading
toward Blanc Mont all Thursday
night Behind this the infantry
moved up to its jumping off posi-
tions. Even the hospitals were
moved forward.
One hospital unit. which had been
under shell fire for three days. but
whose position became safe again |
through removal of the German ar
tillery. asked to be allowed to go1
Forward so as to make possible |
quicker handling OF the wounded
The capture OF Blanc Mont was OF !
similar Importance in this immediate |
area as the fall of Mont Eaucnn wasf
in the Terdun region. These are
Two important key positions which |
have been taken by the Americans |
within a week.
The Germans four-year grip on the /
martyr city of Rheims is now being |
shaken by attacks west and east of |
the city, with Americans participating !
In the assault, over the chalk plains (
to the east
! stood on a height just back of the |
front and saw the Franco-American 1
barrage rolling up great clouds of 1
chalk dust as it spattered its way I
ahead of the advancing doughboys. in /
continuance of the attack, which !
started early in the morning.
Weather IE Perfect.
The weather was so perfect that it
reminded one OF a midsummer Sun
day afternoon. The sun poured from /
a cloudless sky. Dust rose from the |
crowded roads, where doughboys were
pushing toward the front. Couriers
dashed by. covered from head to foot
with white. powder-like dust
1t was like hghting across a West
ern prairie. There was scarcely q |
tree in sight over the vast stretches |
of fat plateau. with only a dominat- 1
ing rise here and there TO break the |
monotony of the terrain.
The attack swung forward in a !
northwesterly direction. thus pinch 4
ing in the salient about Rheims. |