Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-09-08
Yankees Clean Out a Wood,
Packed With Enemy Ma
chine Guns, and InfIict
Heavy Casualties,
SHORTAGE OF OFFICERS
TO LEAD FOES FORCES
Companies in Future to Be
Commanded by LieutenantS
and BattaIionS by Captains,
Is Prisoners Story,

f"' 'PNNNe Journal SPECIAL LEASED WtaFl
/ with the, American Army on the
! Aisne Front, Sept (by the Associat-
ed Press )--The attempt of the Ger
| mans to retain their foothold on the
south side of the Aisne canal in a
! wood to the west of Villers- En- Pray
eres. was nullified by a small, hut
brilliant operation early this morn
ing, The dense little wood had been
packed with machine guns, under Gov
er Of the German guns,
The only break in the American
line along the canal was at that place.
The task of cleaning il out besnn
at 4 o'clock in the morning and was
completed before 10 o'clock There
was no opportunity to take prisoners
but the toll Of German dead was great
as compared with the magnitude OF
the engagement
Along the line to the junction with
the French, heavy resistance continues
and indications are increasing that tho
Germans do not propose to be hurried
in their retreat in this district north
west Of Rheims. The artillery on both
sides was violent in action, but with
the exception Of p9trolling there was
no effort at infantry work
American Line Unchanged.
Tho general line held by the Amer
leans has not changed. From one
place the Americans brought i'm fifty
SIX prisoners, members of one of the
guards divisions Among them were
two officers, one Of whom is Lieut.
6aspard Alvesperen, whose father isl
roputed to be one Of the emperor's
advisors, II was this lieutenant who
COMMANDED the detachment that re-
a .ffa -,
force 70 evacuate Fismette It was the
organization to which that force be-
longed that captured him.
The capture of the wood near the
canal was accomplished after inten-
sive artillery preparation and in theI
face of smotherng fire. The
Americans crcpt close during the
darkness and rushed the woods about
o'clock. From the woods enough
machine gun nests were left to give a
sharp greeting but the real line of
bursts was from beyond the canal.
But this was met with strong Amer
lean counter fire.
The raising of n smoke screen north !
of the Asne early in the day gave
rise to the presumption the Germans
are already moving back. This was
dispelled by later developmentsl all /
lnOugn III WOuId not surprise anBOneI
If they withdrew shortly some re-
garded IL as possible the Germans in
tended to make a stand along theI
Aisne at least until the onward move
mont of the French and British north |
of Soissops is more definitely estab-
lshed
Huns Hang on TenaciousIy.
Northeast of Rheims, there is an
evident dislike on the part of Germans
for retirement and in the broken
country there remain strong forces
which are moving only slowly towards
the rear If the Germans wish, they
can maintain the present position for
many days vet but for every day itl
appears probable that the price they
must pay will he increased
From one prisoner comes an expla
nation Of why lieutenants lately have
been found commanding companies
He said orders had been issued that
because of scarcity Of officers com
panies in the future should be COM
by lieutenants, battaTions by
captains ana regiments by majors.