The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-09-27
Enemy Swept Far Back
From Hindenburg Line

PARIS, Sept 27.-The Franeo-Amer-
lean attack between Rheims and YER
dun is progressing satisfactorily. &C
cordlng to the battlefront dispatches
received here today.
The armies of Generals Gouraud,
Berthelot and Pershing attained all
their first detectives very quickly and
were pushing on.
WITH THE AMERICAN FIRST
ARMY, Sept 27.-The second offensive
of the American first army, under
command of General Pershing, which
began yesterday morning. has swept
the Germans seven miles. behind the
Hindenburg line on q twenty-mile
front, from the Mouse westward to
the Argonne forest The Americans
today continue to progress.
On the American left, French
troops are attacking on an equal
frontage, extending westward to the
Suippe river. They have advanced to-
an average depth of four miles.
villages already occupied by. the
Americans include Varennes, Mont
blainville, Vauquois, Cheppy. Malan-
court, BethincouEt, Montfaucon, Cuisy,
NantilIers and Septsarges-
More than 5000 prisoners have been
counted.
The French have captured Servon.
the Navrtn farm, Main de Massiges,
and the Butte du Mesnil. No report
has been made regarding the number
of prisoners. taken by them.
Bombarded Five Hoars.
The American infantry attack was
preceded by ave hours artillery prep
aration, which exceeded the st. Mi
hiel bombardment in violence. Three
hours OF this intense fire was de-
voted to destroying the enemy's FIRST
line defenses.
Montfaucon. twelve miles north
west OF Verdun, was encircled an
captured at noon, just six hours and
half after the attack began. CuisY
Nantillers, Septsarges and other
points were similarly cleaned up. or
taken by frontal assaults.
The operation reflects the attack
ing power of the Americans better
than did the st. MihieI assault. this
being our first frontal attack over
an extended front. The advance was
far ahead of schedule all day yester-
day.
Several spots were encountered
where the artillery failed to smash
the enemy's wire entanglements. The
doughboys cut these distractions by
hand and pushed on without any no
ticesble pause.
Artillery and squadrons OF airplanes
bombarded the German rear areas
with deadly effect, smashing numer-
hid fn
Der OF ammunition dumps.
Prisoners said an American attack
was expected. but that it was looked
for east of Verdun. As result, the
Germans had great artillery conceu-
trRtions and reserves maSsed between
Vtrdun and the Metz region.
Boche artillery along the east bank
OF the Meuse was so completely
gassed it hardly fired a shot all day
The enemy resistance was effected
mainly through the generous use OF
machine guns. These were stormed.
Enemy Kept In Doubt.
A strong artillery FIRE was kept
W Wednesday night on the entire
line from the Mouse to the Moseile.
thus adding to the boche's uncertain
ty as to just where the attack was
to be made. Fifteen or twenty raids
were made deep into the enemy lines
in this region. Then the attack was
suddenly made to the northwest.
catching the Germans completely off
their balance.
The Germans were unable to use
much artillery in the region under
attack. owing to the fact that most
Of their guns were concentrated be-
tween Verdun and Metz. or were on
the road TO that sector.
The number OF prisoners is believed
70 he far greater than the 5000
already announced, as they were be-
ing brought TO the rear in a constant
stream.
The American First army corps is
composed of regular army troops and
troops OF the national guard OF many
States.
The first and second divisions OF
the regular army formed its nucleus
md TO these were added the Twenty
iNth division. National Guard New
"nglandD: Thirty-second division, Ma
ional Guard (Iichigan and Wiscon-
sinD: Forty-frst division, at.onal
'iuard washington. Oregon. North
Dakota, South Dakota. Colorado. New
Mexico, Montana Idaho, Wyoming