davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-08-11
IS Boche PLANES
Brought Down on
Picardy Front
British Lost Fifty Machines
During the Battle of
August 8
Helped Out the Tanks
Also Supplied Advance Troops
With Ammunition From
the Air
Helped Out the Tanks


.;,n,anes were destroyed by British
'.;s.ors or driven down out of control
:. tho lighting Of August 8, when the
.,,;od offensive in Picardy opened, to-
.;rhts official statement on aviation
.a.rat;ons shows. Fifty British ma
.s;nss are missing, the British losses
,.;no due chiefly to fire from the
ground.
The statement says;
"On August our airplane squadrons
Generated with other arms on the
battlefront throughout the day. The
line reached by our attacking infantry
vss reported by our contact airplanes.
Tho nositions of the hostile artillery
:, action and columns of German in
tantrv and transport on the march
vere signalled to our guns by our
sr.illerv machines. Other machines
supplied our advance troops with am
munition from the air.
Cooperated With Tanks
aCo0peration with the tanks was
carried out systematically. Our ma
chimes assisted the tanks crews with
information, attacked strong points
and other opposition with bombs and
machine gun fire, and by dropping
smoke bombs along the line Of their
advance assisted to conceal the ap>
uroach of the tanks from the enemy.
"Our contact machines working with
the cavalry rendered valuable services.
Flying low in front of our advancing
line, our fighting squadrons shot at
and bombed the enemy in his retreat,
causing havoc among the masses Of
hostile troops and transport on roads
congested with traffic.
"Our bombing squadrons flying a
few hundred feet from the ground at
lacked trains, railway functions and
bridges.
Forty eight hostile machines are re-
ported as destroyed by our airplanes.
and seventeen others were driven
down out of control. Five hostile bal
looms were shot down in flames. Fifty
Of our own machines are missing, most
Of these casualties being due to fire
from the ground. One of our night
flying machines also failed to return.
ION August 9 our airmen continued
the work of cooperating with the
British infantry, artillery, cavalry and
tanks on the battlefront. German
troops and transport were again at
tackled with bombs and machine gun
fire from low height whenever a
suitable target offered. The Somme
bridges were heavily bombarded by dav
and night.
elsewhere along the British front
the activity in the air has been slight,
but the ordinary work of photography
reconnaissance and observation has
been carried on"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-08-11
"Cyclops Captured"
Bottled Note Saws
message" Found Near Balti-
more Purports to Give News
of Missing Collier

BALTIMORE, Aug. 10.-A bottle con-
tanning either the explanation of the
mysterious disappearance of the United
States collier Cyclops some months ago
or grim practical joke was found yes
terday, where it had hoated ashore off
Quarantine station, by Frank Riston, of
this city.
The bottle, which was tightly corked,
carried a paper on which was written
with blue crayon pencil the following
message:
Captured by German submarine off
the coast Of Virginia. Our ship
Cyclops." 1t was signed either rum
man" or "Rummon"
The message was scrawled on a strip
of the waxed paper usually found in
packages of tobacco, and apparently
was done in haste. Doubt is expressed
as to the gcnuinencss Of the message.
On April Ia word was sent out from
Washington that the big American
naval collier, Cyclops, $4,000 tons dis
placement, carrying 81 passengers, Is
officers and 221 men in her crew, had
been overdue at an Atlantic port since
March 49, The Navy Department also
announced that she was last reported
at a West Indies island March d. The
vessel was bringing a cargo Of manga
nese from Brazil.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-08-11
New York Boys
Achieve Glorv
In Big Drive

OF the Prussian Guards, Bavaran d.
vision and one other division, and
driven back the enemy's lines for six
teen kilometres"
General March pointed out that the
Picardy drive follows the same general
line of strategy as the Foch pincer
movement in the Aisne- Marine sector,
and promises the same successful re-
suit. Later reports showed that the
Allies have trapped the Germans in
the Montdidicr pocket at the apex of
the salient, just as the Germans we're
trapped at Chateau Thierry and below
the Marine, with even greater promise
of closing the trap than in the July
Is drive.
Summarizing tho results of the Brit
ish drive on official reports up to the
hour of his conference, General March
said:
ION August 8 combined British
and French force, commanded by Field
Marshal Haig, attacked. on a front of
twenty miles, cast Of Amiens. This
terrain is nat, almost level, and while
some time ago there were small clumps
Of woods, all Of those undoubtedly had
been lcvelled long ago By artillery fire,
so we can count that country as prac
tcally level, with very little natural
impcdment 70 an advance. There are
few valleys perpendicular to the front
Of our advancing armies instead of par
allcl to it. so that the advancing troops
can go right through the valleys.
1.-THE enemy apparently was taken
by surprise and made. no essential re-
sistancc in the centre, combining a
strong resistance to the TANKS. He
made counter attack toward tho
north Of this advance and rctook part
OF the ground that had frst been taken
by the British. Hitting the big salient
there on thirteen mile front, we
pushed it in an average Of eight miles
and reduced it from an outer salient
to an inner salient. That gives US
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-08-11
in fifteen days five German divisions

in fifteen days five German divisions
and part of sixth.
ut was just 9:45" Con the evening
Of June 81, the letter continues, when
word came in that Bouresches had been
taken by Robertson's platoon of the
S6th, or, rather, the twenty-odd men
OF his platoon who had managed to
break through a heavy machine gun
barrage. One of Sibley's companies
Holcomb's battalion to establish the
line from there to where the 23d's left
flank lay. 1t had been unable to ad-
vance and at the same time keep in
touch on its left as ordered.
Duncan, however, hearing that this
company was 200 yards in advance Gan
error raced ahead with his 96th Com
pany and was met by terrific machine
gun barrage from two sides and from
Bouresches. AS Robertson told me, he
had managed to get part of his platoon
through the barrage and. looking back.
saw Duncan and the rest of the com
pany charging through the barragc go
down like flies
Robertson had one-half Of the line
and Duncan half. Robertson blew his
whistle just before this to bring up all
his half Of the line and missed Lieu
tenant Bowling. He passed the word
mere is Ohnny" and saw Bowling
get up, face white with pain, and go
stumbling ahead with a bullet in his
shoulder. Duncan, the last he saw of
him before he was moved down, had
his pipe in his mouth and was carrying
stick. Dental Surgeon Osborne picked
Duncan up and with a hospital corps
man had just gained some shelter, when
she'll wiped all three out"
eve sent out truck loaded with
| ammunition and tools to Bouresches,
got up our Stokes and one Founders
for Sibley and Holcomb was ordered to
straighten out his line from Bour-
esches straight down to the Triangle
Farm, where the 23d had rested its left
flank. The whole road was lighted up
by flares and exploding shells and
swept by artillery and heavy machine
gun fire. 1t was a great trip and we
had fftv volunteers from the Head
| quarters Company, of whom we sent
only the necessary crew. When it got
back we knew we could hold Bour-
esches and the counter attack at 2:30
in the morning although it got within
by our fire.
"When the fiercest fighting was over
the writer of the letter went from
brigade headquarters to see the men
who still had some clean up work be-
| fore them.
~ saw them toward the end out in
the woods" he wrote, land I found
them out there serenely confident, their
faces showing the strain but the old
spirit unconquered."
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-08-11
Americans Beat
off Strong German
Attacks on Vesle
On The Associated Pycss)

WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY ON
THE VESLE FRONT, Aug. 1o.-In at
tempting to dislodgc the French and
the Americans from positions north Of
the Vesle River, on both sides Of
Fsmcs, the Germans launched repeated
counter attacks, which began just be-
fore dark Friday night and continued
until Saturday morning
There was desperate fighting in the
region Of Fismette, where the German
attacks were repulsed by the Amcri-
cans, who were clinging to the out
skirts of the village.
In the region Of Bazoches the Ger
mans made several vicious attacks, but
the Allies successfully fought them off.
The Germans began with arplane
attacks, the aviators attempting to
bomb infantrymen north of the Vesle
and bridges over which other troops
were passing. French and American
antaircraft guns beat off the German
hicrs, however.
Just after dark the Germans
launched an artillery attack which
steadily increased in volume until near
~ daylight, when the Franco-Ameri-
cans counter attacked with such force
that the Germans were forced to lessen
the volume Of their fire.
During the night the Germans at
lacked fismcttn three times and once
after daylight Saturday.
From the region southeast Of BraIsnc
, to Fismcs the Franco-Amcricansp put
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-08-11
Brigade Of Sea Sol
diers More Than Up
held Fighting Tradi-
tons of Their Corps

The events which led a French gem
eral to suggest that Bots de Belleau be
called hereafter Bots des Americans
are chronicled by an officer of marines
i'll q letter which Major General George
barnett, commandant Of the United
States Marine Corps, has received from
France. Officers of the marine corps
ere not given to loquacity or over-en-
thusiasm, but in his letter to his COM
handing officer the writer says:
IL feel that l can say without boast
ing that the marine brigade not only
lived up to the very best traditions Of
Our service but even surpassed them at
times, because we never faced such
odds and never were confronted by
such crisis" When the marines had
whipped half dozen German divisions
and taken the wood. they sat down
and shaved
Cup from Meaux. the road went
straight to the front with gllmpses of
the Marine"
1t was the road to the front and to a
battle in which the marines made his
tory. On June / they deployed from
their camions and established a line
began on June to drop back outnum-
bcred and exhausted between the COM
panies of United States marines. That
night the marines held the line alone
and the next day the Germans ad-
vanced to the attack, expecting to be
faced again by the battle-worn French.
"They were driving at Hill 1865 from
the north and northeast" the chroni-
cler wrote" and they came out on a
wonde rfuliy clear day in two columns
across d wheat field. From our dis
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-08-11
u. S. Plans Absurd,
Says Foe Air Chief

AMSTERDAM, Aug. 1O.-Apprehen-
sion that there will be extensive bonn
bardment of German cities by swarms
of American airplanes has moved the
Vienna correspondent of the Berlin
"Tagebiatt" to seek the opinion of the
chief commander Of the Austro-Hun-
garian air forces That official offered
the following comfort to German city
dwellers:
The American idea of constructing
a huge number of standard type flying
machines with standard motors is abb
surd. Even if the Americans succeed
In combining the best features of the
newest existing type by twofold 1t
would not follow that such COM
posite machine would be most useful
in the European war theatre. In any
case, these machines would soon be
overtaken by newer inventions. Every
machine becomes obsolete in two
months or less and is ready for the
scrapheap.
"Only practical experience in meet
ing the enemy in the air shows what
is the most suitable n 8chine. AS for
the American threat that 10000 ma
chimes are coming over every practical
airman knows that it is humbug.
American machines appear only sporad-
ically on the West front, and neither
the men nor machines are equal to
Germans. They are certainly not su-
perior."
The commander expressed the firm
belief that airships would soon be per-
fected to such a degree that they could
keep aloft for three weeks and would
be able to cross the Atlantic easily
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-08-11
Marines Calmly Shaved
After Belleau Battle

lance 1t locked fiat and green as base
ball field, set between a row of woods
en- the further side and woods and a
lavIne on the nearer side
We could see the two thin brown
columns advancing in perfect order
until twc-thirds Of the columns, we
judged, were in view. The rifle and
machine gun fire were incessant, and
overhead the shrapnel was bursting.
Then the shrapnel came on the target
at each SHOT. 1t broke just over and
the next bursts sprayed over the very
green in which we could see the col
umns moving.
Then under that deadly fire. now a
harrage OF rife and machine gun fire,
the Boche stopped. 1t was too much for
any man. They burrowed in or broke
to the cover of the woods and YOU
could follow them by the ripples of the
the green wheat as they raced for
cover The 9Th bore the brunt of it
and on our left the men raked the
woods and ravines to stop the Boche at
his favorite trick of infltrating
through.
THE French who were in support of
the 9TH and at one time thrown into
the line could not and cannot toe day
grasp the rife fire of the men, That
men should fire deliberately and use
their sights and adjust their range
was beyond their experience. The
rifle fire certainly figured heavily in
the toll we took and it must have
had telling effect on the morale of
the boche, for it was something they
had not counted on. AS a matter of
fact. after pushing back the weakened
French and then running up against
a stone wall defence they were liter
stopped. We found that out later from
prisoners, for the Germans never knew
we were in the front line when they
made that Attack. They were abso-
lutely mystitied at the way the de-
fence had stifcned up"
That was the beginning of the fight
for Belleau Wood, in the course of
which the brigade of marines engaged
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-08-11
Americans Run
To Join Battle
At Chipilly
Continued from page 1

d st. MihieD, it is one thing to get
ne Americans into trap and another
ming to get them out of it. The Ger
mans IN the end had the most unpleas-
any recolections Of Fismes.
With Fismes occupied the struggle
ior the valley began. The American
crossing Of the Vesle was a fine piece
u work and coolly performed under
searching enemy fire.
II was only when the Americans ad
ssaced to the foot of the hills that
'aey realized the character of the Ger
'-Aa opposition. On the heights above
we're hidden German machine guns. It
.s' impossible to approach them, since
vac! mad a clear field of fire. and as
as' were invisible, they could keep
ne Americans from 1000 to 1900 yards
way. Big shells then began to drop in
"e american lines, apparently fred
ron heavy howitzers, which probably
ave oeen withdrawn in safety beyond
tie Aisne.
me Americans are lying on the hill
r'ss' virtually in the open, with the
''"an gunners watching every mo-
~ea' from the dark belt of trees above
'as American gunncrs are pepperlng
~ enemy with she'll and gas, but
.'aout sensibly diminishing their fire.
:'aa"nl!e, the big shells still are COM
80 over and any reply to them is
'Acsrtain business.
q sue Germans continued to fire until
q americans and the English put
"sm out Of action.
North of the sommc and also uoutb
lne uermans are showing every
80, 80 % a rapid retreat. Most of the
-. A' mat came over from their bat
"-oay we're of small calibrc and
g.. a. extremely long range, showing
g. ~ TIE enemy probably was removing
- heavier pieces for further re-
s"snt' The Allied forces, who
'shefe today advanced their lines,
'her artillery along with them.
we're was further cheer in the re-
~ 1na' the French had started an
, ,asr movement that resulted in the
ing Of Aontdidier. In that region
d. sas "ermans made preparations
we withdrawal that military OBJ
~ confidently had expected.
enemy continues TO destroy his
. 4. 81 munitions in various local.
~"hz the battlefront, az i. the
- beaten array.
,'"sf Hrecesses est If Xootdidie,
q IRON out the whole sector NORTH
4'as and result in the freeing
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-08-11

serves slowly and his difficulties are
being multiplied by the starting he is
receiving from droves of airplanes and
tanks.
Surprise to Enemy
No better organized and executed re-
murerative operation was ever directed
by Haig. There is no doubt now that
the place of attack was a complete sur
prise to the Germans, who expected
the drive between Arras and Albert.
All threats to Paris are gone for the
moment, if not for the rest of the war
The menace to Amiens is gone, and the
road to Abbevillc and the Channel
heightened. The Amens-Paris rail-
way, by way of st. Just, is no longer
under gunfire. Haig has already won
very big victory, and future opera
tions offer high promise.
The transition from gloom and anx
iety to buoyancy and high confidence
has been SO rapid it is difficult to keep
the balance. If we remember four,
compare our present emotions with
! those of the Germans we can appre-
ciate what kaleidoscope changes are
taking place in this campaign
Tie Canadians and Australians, who
! have been training as storm troops,
have played big part in this battle
The English cavalry, following close be-
hind the tank squadrons, are having the
opportunity for which they have been
patiently waiting and training. In this
primarily British show, with British
troops directed by British field mar
shall, they are vndicating themselves
after the March disaster The French
are filling a role, relatively minor at
first, but now becoming Of major i'm
portance.
Probably the divisions which took
part in the initial drive found some
eight divisions in front of them.
Though considerably Communicating the
enemy, the Germans didn't face such
great odds as the British did on March
81. The defensive force, with the eX
ception of the wings, was totally unprc-
pared and the British nabbed prisoners
so rapidly they were almost unable to
handle them.
Now Open Fighting
A divisional general, taken before he
could escape to the transports miles be-
hind the original POSITIONS fell a vic
tim to the small but smart tanks and
nrmcrcd motor cars. A second divis-
ional head was taken at Lihons.
In two hours postional warfare had
given way to open fighting. There has
been nothing like it, not excepting the
March battle, because mobile guns are
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-08-11

salient somewhat corresponding to the
Marine salient and places the enemy
again in bad position. The advance
of the British and French at this point
comes up. so that they are getting int
control or threatening the railroad line
of communications, which at that point
runs up from the Montdider sector to
Chaulnes."
British Straighten Line
General March did not regard the
advance of the British in Flanders SO
much in the light of a forced move
ment as voluntary retirement of the
Germans to positions made untenable
by Allied advances to the east and
south.
con the Flanders salient" General
March said "the enemy on August 9
was Withdrawing on the southern
sector of the salient, south of Melville,
and the British occupied that territory.
The general effect Of these movements
is Strengthening out of the line every
where"
Along the Vcslc River, beyond
which the Germans were forced to re-
tire when the French and Americans
began offensive operations the Allies
nave ADOPTED nlDDilTg taCtlCS, Ncn-
cral March explained, trying to &C
quire a foothold on the northern bank
of the Vesle, but have not yet attempt
ed to go up the slopes on the north side
where German intrenchments are sup
posed to be.
"That part of the line has remained
stationary" General March said. land
as the line has become stationary Foch
has kept up his pressure on the enc
my"
A cablcgram from General Pershing
showed that the Allies in the advance
in the Montdider-Albert sector had
taken more German prisoners than they
could handle, while making big artl-
lcry captures The cable from Genera
Pcrshing follows:
Called troops found little opposition
and have captured more prisoners thar
is possible for them to handle, includ.
ing German general and his staff
showing elements Of surprise of attack
British report their prison camps back
of Amicns so full that it is impossible
to hold any more. Allies have captured
all the artillery in this sector"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-08-11

being employed in greater numbers and
variety.
Not only have vast quantities of am
munition and supplies fallen to the
British, but the enemy has lost hun
dreds of guns of various calibres-some
of them of the largest size, which had
been Smelling Amiens. Ten of Rup-
prccht's divisions have been swept into
the discard, while as many more will
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-08-11

down such a terrific barrage that the
Germans were stopped. Saturday
morning the Tcutons started another
attack along the same line, but heavy
artillery quickly checked this assault.
The enemy used much gas in attempt
ing to dislodge the Americans from
Fismettc. lnfantrymen plentifully sup
piled with machine guns also made
futile attacks.