The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-10-18
U. S. men WADE
WAIST DEEP ITO
take CRANDPRE
Americans Prove Heroes in Sur
prise Blow That Wins Ger
man Stronghold.
BITTER FIGHT FOR town
Capture Of Hun Position Is Accom-
pIished Under Terrific Hardships
In Face of Machine Gun Fire
Gross Mud Flats.

London, Oct. 18.-PrInce Macmillan
of Baden, the German chancellor, will
make statement in the reichstag to-
day accepting, in the name Of the gov
ernment and Of the German army,
President Wilson's terms, the Daily
Express learns from It's Amsterdam
correspondent. The information ls
credited to direct Berlin advIces. The
correspondent adds that Germany will
surrender to General Foch's armIstice
conditions.
With the Anglo-American Forces
South Of LIE Cateau, Oct. 18.-Ameri-
can forces south of lie Cateau, to-
gether with British troops on both
sides OF them, launched at attack soon
after daylight against the badly disOr-
ganized, but desperately fighting Ger
mans. After the shells from the
British artillery had done their part,
the Americans and British stormed
forward to the bank Of the River Selle
and managed to cross the stream
against hail Of machine-gun bullets
from the other bank. Some Of the men
plunged into the muddy stream, while
others crossed on pontOOns. The Ger
man machine gunners fought to the
last and died firing their guns.
Enemy Outwitted.
With the American Forces North
west of Verdun, Oct. 1S.-The capture
Of Grandpre was accomplished under
terrific hardships and with a herOism
not hinted at in the brief official an
nouncement Of the taking Of this
stronghold Of the Germans north Of
the Argonne forest-
The Americans took the town pri-
marily by outwitting the enemy-by
attacking without the artillery prep
aration which the Germans had ex-
pected by wading the River Aire at
four points, instead Of building
bridges; by struggling through almost
impossible mud step by step until sud-
denly on top of the amazed Germans.
and by driving them into retreat af-
ter hand-tO-hand fighting.
nCdSu %iTC !OuE POInI8s
The Americans had moved to point
within short distance Of Grandpre
and the Germans had destroyed the
bridges over the shallow Aire as they
retreated. The enemy obviously ex-
pected an artillery fire to preface any
further attack, for his surprise was
unfeigned when the Americans smash
ed into his positions.
The American attack began at six
o'clock in the morning. The men
moved forward in the shelter of the
forest, reaching the Aire at four points
agreed upon where the stream could
be forded.
Without attracting the attention of
the Germans, the Americans then
waded into the cold water, which
reached to their waists and even high
er, and pushed across the stream.
Under Fire In Mud.
On the northern bank they found
broad mud flats into which they sank
half way to their knees. The Germans
by this time had discovered their ap-
proach and opened a bitter machine
gun fire, but the Americans pushed
steadily on. Beyond the mud banks,
which were crossed lowly and with the
greatest difficulty, the Americans
found the Germans and closed with
them In a desperate bayonet hand-to-
hand fight. Rifles often were used as
clubs and each man struggled to down
his individual opponent.
At eleven o'clock the Americans had
completely overcome the enemy, had
driven him into the woods north Of
Grandpre and were in possession of
the fmnOrtant rail head