New-York tribune., 1918-11-05
Americans Wrest
Laneuuille From
Retreatir7g Huns

WIN he NMERICAN ARMY
NORTHWEST OF VERDUN, Nov. A
III 80 %. m.) (By The Associated
Press) )-The American troops late this
afternoon advanced their lines Goth
east and west, occupying Laneu, ille,
directly opposite Stenay, and taking
Les Grandes Armoises on the left. The
advance to-day averaged four miles.
In the face of stubborn opposition
the Americans tool. and he d he wood
ed heights south OF Beaumont, the last
German stronghold west of the Meuse
The advance carried the lines forward
for an average gain of more than three
miles.
The forces on the heights are now
only about seven and one-ha'f miles
! from Carignan, on the Mezieres Metz
railroad, and just about nine miles
from Sedan. bringing both places with
f, in range of the Allied she'll fire.
The days work may be said to have
been complete. 1t was the principal
phase of the American operation since
the neck of the German lateral com
! munications between the armies to the
north and west was narrowed to the
strangling point.
The attacking forces to the right
and left advanced with less speed than
/ at the centre, where an American di-
vision crashed through despite the
most stubborn opposition offered by
I IN c;p
the offensive The apex Of the line
was driven to the heights, which are
vital, affording dominating positions
from the artil cry.
Patrols went into and beyond the
town itself, but it's possession is un-
necessary as long as the hills are held
by the Americans. The Germans n =.
not fight over the terrain to the north
and northeast because Of the lack of
communication lines there. They mu t
fall back as soon as the Amer can
artillery breaks up the remaining rail
roads, even if the main lines from
Sedan to Metz are not smashed first.
The military authorities were ever
Joyed with the results of the days
fighting, declaring that it may even
spell the end of the present operation
and that any others to the north, west
ward or directly eastward would con-
stitute entirely new operations.
Is %. m.).-The German resistance
encountered by the American troops on
virtually all parts of the front was the
feature of the fighting to-day. The oppo-
sition was especially stubborn on tbs
right and left fianks, where the enemy
! brought up reinforcements and de-
Tended himself with machine guns and
artillery.
The American left wing pushed for
ward slowly but doggedly, and the
Americans occupied Verrieres and
Oches. The right wing worked it's way
down the River Meuse and reached a
line between Beaufort and Beauclair
and north of Helles and Wiseppe. This
flank met with the most stubborn re-
sistance from the enemy, who fought
bitterly to prevent encroachment on the
important town of Stcnay.
American troops in mass made ro
effort to cross the River Meuse. Patrols
encountered heavy machine gun and ar
tillery fire at every attempt. They re-
mained at nightfall on the west bank
The centre moved so fast that they
took prisoner German reinforcements
coming to aid their comrades in the
front lines.
General Pershing's forces early to-
day had taken we'll above 900 prison.
ers in the present movement.
Almost forty villages have been occu-
pied by the Americans in the territory
reconquered from the Germans.
All parts of the line were active dur.
ing last night. The left wing con-
tinued its advance with little Interrupt
ton. even after da kness had ia len
The Americans reached Boult aux Boi
at 4 O'Clock this morning. Thei pa.
trolls were at the heels of the tr at.
ing enemy, who were heard leaving tn
northern end of the town by wag m
and who had made their oscar e by the
time the Americans had made their
way through the town in the glorm.
From the left flank 10 the right tNerc
ore evidences that the German oficers