Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-10-25
OLD HICKORY MEN
HADGLORIOUSPART
IN GREAT ADVANCE

WITH THE BRITISH ARMIES IN
FRANCE, Oct. 23.-The story of the
part the Americans played in the re-
cent fighting has been obtained by a
half days journey into the wrecked
country beyond the Hindenburg line.
The battle, in which the Americans
participated, lasted three days, begin
ming at 5:20 Thursday morning, when
with the British on either side of them,
they attacked from the ST. Souplet line
(south of LIE Cateau) on front of s..
600 yards (nearly three mileS), without
artillery preparations. Tanks manned
by Americans were important factors.
The position from which they at
tackled was on a ridge west of the Selle
river. Their objective was the ridges
beyond, including valley more than a
mile wide. The river was from six to
There were Germans behind the frs.
ridges. Beyond the river were new
trenches
A heavy morning fog Thursday hid
the German machine guns and almost
caused the tanks to lose their way.
The German resistance was bitter. II
began simultaneously with the attack
when they let down a heavy barrage
that lasted sc hours. 1t included gas
and was directed at ST. Souplet and
the line of villages on either side.
Five German divisions, including the
famous third naval, and elements OF
six others, participated in the fight
ing along the American second corps
front, of which the New Workers had the
left wing and Carolina and Tennessee
troops the right
vision attacked from the left and an
other division from the right. Fight
ing continued by moonlight.
When one battalion established head
east of st. Souple) the major used
tank for an office. Nolan, st. Mar
tin-Riviere and L'Arbre de Guise were
captured the first day in a two-mile
places and in others was crossed on
bridges built by the engineers.
The day before the attack a party
of % had waded the river, captured 80
Germans and dragged them back. Val
liable information was obtained from
these prisoners.
At o'clock on the first day the en-
gineers engaged in building bridges for
the artillery under shell fire were en-
b&rraSSed by prisoners who had sur
rendered to the tanks which had plunged
On the second day the Germans held
strongly until the middle of the after
noon when they broke and gave ground
The British in the meantime had passed
lie Cateau on the northward.
The Americans took Ribeauville 1.-TWO
miles southeast of st. Souplet) and pro-
ceeded as far as MaZinghien Ca mile
northeast of Ribeauville). which an Of
ticer entered by moonlight and found
unoccupied. He reported back, where.
upon a regiment marched in behind its
commander as though on parade.
This gave the Americans the third
ridge. The third day was spent in clean
ing up the slope beyond, which resulted
in an additional advance Of 1900 yards
(nearly a mile).
The three days fighting resulted in
numerous casualties from rife fire as
well as from the artillery.
In a period of thirteen days, only
six of which were spent in actual fight
ing, these Americans advanced a total
depth of thirteen miles.
The entire second corps includes the
Fourth division of the regular army, the
Thirtieth (Old Hickory division of
Tennessee, North Carolina. South Caro-
lima and District of Columbia national
guard; the Thirty-sixth division of Mis-
souri, and Kansas national guard, and
the Seventy seventh New York and
Eighty second Georgia, Alabama and
Florida national army men.