New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-09-02

their positions, plunging forward
toward the points that had been indi-
Gated. From out of concealed positions
moved the tanks along the paths lead
ing to machine gun nests. North of
Juvigny there was hill on which the
Germans had concentrated strong ma
chine gun force, but there was little to
DO there when the infantry arrived
The positions had actually been obli-
terated in some cases.
There was no organized resistance on
big scale. 1t was case of hopping
up rather an extended district. The
Germans who were still left in the area
were detached forces, many of them
IN caves, some in sections of the an
cicnt network of trenches and some be-
hlnd fallen masonry of the ruined farm
houses and villages. But many of
nose fought perhaps because they
pletely detached.
Foe Uses Two New Divisions
Terny-Sorny was reached by the
Americans without a struggle, but
practically every other position be-
tween the American line of departure
and the objective was yielded only be-
cause the Germans were unable to re-
tain it,
From prisoners it was learned that
wltnln the last few days there han been
placed in the sector in front of the
Americans two new German divisions
the 2oSth and the 227th-the first of
which marched from Rheims and the
other from Metz. Both were excellent
organizations, but, like other divisions
encountered in the last few weeks,
| were afflicted with that mysterious
something which caused them to crack
when pounded by the rejuvenated AL
lies.
Something new in the way of bar
rage was used by the Americans. Pris-
oners who we're brought in, many of
whom had been under barrages more
than once of every army opposed to
the Central Powers, characterized it as
"crazy fire."
Others solemnly declared that thew
had been subjected to a counter bar
rage by their own army. That, in fact,
did occur in at least one instance, due,
doubtless, to the confusion in the Ger
man aerial service. But it was not the
case as whole.
The Americans held their long range
guns on line of targets, beginning
their barrage along a line to the rear
OF that. This barrage moved on, and
! in brief interval another barrage
started at the same point When the
first moving line of fire reached that of
the long range guns, they shifted, and
the triple barrage was repeated.
Ordinarily, when a creeping barrage
passes, those under the fire feel free to
reappear. In this case they reappeared,
only to be subjected to another smoth-
cring fire.
On the Americans left similar tao
tics were used, but the intervals were
longer, the American guns covering
exactly twice the ground if measured
by the density of fire.
Allies Masters of the Air
The Allies mastery of the air in this
sector is unquestioned. In the air at
one time there we're counted eighty AL
lied planes. 1t was one of those rare
opportunities for observation work, the
visibility was good and squadron after
squadron assembled. With the observa-
ton planes went combat planes. a few
of which disappeared over the German
lines to take part in the actual fight
ing.
Occasionally a German plane chal-
lenged their presence. but in every
case it was driven off. The Allied
planes even prevented the Germans
from spotting for their own artillery
with any degree of efficiency. Not one
Allied plane was brought down.
An incident of the arrival of the
prisoners at the rear was halt of
detachment at a spot where graves
were being dug. Their stopping was
accidental, but the men were fully con-
WINGED that they had been brought
there to die and there to be buried.
Equipment Marks Path of Retreat
In the dressing stations to-day the
number of German wounded was far
greater than the American. The long
range fire of the Germans to-day did
not result in very many casualties
The German dead are out of proportion
to the number of Americans killed.
Helmets and other equipment marked
the path of the enemy retirement,
while some of the trenches and dug
outs and other places which had been
used as cover were filled with bodies
dressed in field gray. Dead horses and
broken down wagons completed the |
picture of devastation on the line of