The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-08-30
Hold DOggedly to Heights
North of City of scissors.
Defeat Would Result in Flank
ing of Whole Vesle Line.
YANKS BRIGADED WITH FRENCH
Small Force of Americans Par.
ticipates in the Attack.
Prisoners Report German Sol
diers Are Well Fed.

with the American Armies in
France, Aug. 3O.-The Germans are
fighting desperately and doggedIy to
hold the line of the Aisne heights
north of scissors, which have been as
sailed by the French Tenth army, in
which Americans are brigaded. If
these are driven back any considerable
distance it will be by the superior
fighting qualities of the French and
Americans and their greater gun
power
In yesterdays attack there was no
indication that the line would be found
soft behind the usual rear guard ma
chine gun nests. The element of sur
prise cannot enter this fighting, as
the German staff obviously recognizes
the Importance of the line under at
tack and undoubtedly has expected the
assault for some time.
Battle Ground Since 1914.
The fighting is over ground which
has been a battlefield since 1914.
1t contains a series of great pla-
teaus, with an extensive cave and
network of old trench system. We
are fighting, in consequence, a curious
mixture of open and old trench war
fare, the latter requiring strong artfl-
lery preparation.
Yesterdays operation carried the
French and Americans forward, but
the fighting is of a far different ma
ture than that encountered in the re-
cent rush form the Marine, when the
Americans marched for miles without
encountering German
Every foot of the Chavigny-Juvigny
region is contested. The famous Prus-
sian Seventh regiment is opposing the
Americans Prisoners taken are typ
ically Prussian. Some are unusually
arrogant.
When one officer was asked where
he attention.
pulled himself to his full height and
answered definitely, Prussia
German Soldiers Well Fed.
There are instances of lone Ameri-
can picking up several Prussians. A
sergeant from Wisconsin ran upon
rendered. The sergeant marched them
to the Tear. One of them said the
German soldiers are being fairly well
fed, the physical condition of boys
under 81 receiving special attention.
They are given extra bread rations.
It was an ideal day for a battle
yesterday. It was clear and cool, but
a ground haze obscured movements in
the early morning. Later the sun
penetrated the mist, unfolding a re-
moving men and war equipment.
These plateaus are remarkable for a
constant silhouette view given to NOV
ing men, guns and horses. Sharp dips
and rises here and there cause the
groups to be thrown into sharp relief
suggesting a series of living Reming
ton drawings.
The Americans enthusiastically
praise the work of the tanks in clean
ing up trenches and machine gun
nests and breaking thru wire entangle-
ments- One tank placed itself across
short trench, enfilading and driving
out the boche. The doughboys said
they didn't see how the tank was 60
ing to get off, but it climbed on
across without any trouble.
How the Americans Came
When the Americans encountered
several strings of caves into which the
boche had burrowed they used great
numbers of grenades with telling ef-
feet From the heights where the
Americans and French are fighting,
the spires of scissors cathedral are
visible. 1t is now permissible to de-
scribe the arrival of the Americans in
this part of the battle front. Turnout
Tuesday, Tuesday night and Wednes-
day, American men, guns and wagons,
wound up roads thru valleys which
connected vast plateaus. They passed
over ground conquered by the First
and Second divisions when the Amert-
cans first fought in the scissors re-
gion.
Machine guns were found every
where. The wounded say that every
other boche appeared to have a ma
chine gun. The wounded are ex-
tremely cheerful. They are cared fol
in dressing stations safely located in
the depths of caves. They said they
suffered more from the colo at night
waiting for the attack, than during the
fighting.
The rain all Wednesday night chill
ed the men to the utmost, but it did
not affect their spirits, and they said
they were glad to attack when they
got I'D in the morning.
The sky swarmed with airplanes
during the day. One boche eluded tbs
French patrols and shot down two
observation balloons in rapid success
sion. AS the sausages were still fall
ing in flames the boche darted bach
toward his lines, with French planes
IN pursuit. But he got away.
The artillery first attacked In linn
tied areas at midday and concentrated
ny the front lines, but at last the entire
front echoed to the roaring and pound
ling of guns on both sides. There were
Infantry combats thruout the day 1r
many instances American patrols pen
etrated beyond the main German line
and brought in prisoners Organized
expeditions hunted up machine CUR
nests and exterminated them.
Stream of Prisoners POurs In.
In a cage in the rear prisoners were
being gathered in an almost endless
stream.
The Americans now in this region
have particularly distinguished them
selves. They moved from a distant
area on short notice. The artillery
and other units travelled night and
day, arriving on schedule time.
Abandoned boche strongholds nave
been encountered everywhere. they
include deep dugouts, pill boxes and
trench and wire systems. The village:
have been entirely wiped out. and nc
more than an occasional skeleton of g
tree can be seen anywhere on the shat.
tered plateau.
HBOBBIES" TALKED STRIKE