Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-07-19
Rapid Allied Plunge
Threatens to Force Great
German Withdrawal
YANKEE SPEED HELPFUL
All Artillery of Entire German
Division Captured by
Entente
BY the United Press


Marine Front. July 10.
Inc Franco-American advance he.
tween the Aisne and the Marne has
oeeh so rapid that various regimental
headquarters have been moved for.
"ard as many as three times and cour.
iers have had great difficulty in keen
ing In touch with the Commander.
migrations.
The drive already is ser,ou.,v
threatening the German right flank IN
the Marne salient, and holds possi-
oiities OF forcing great enemy with.
drawal Success of the present on
erations has been the means of ayer+.
ing any immediate danger to Paris
ne attack is rapidly exposing a great
concentration of enemy reserves and
srtiilery, which were held in readi.
ness 10 be thrown into the battle to
tne southeastward. 1t is a question
w"ether the Germans will be abIa
10 organize these or will have to
withdraw them
Surprise Big Factor
me element Of surprise has been tha
great FACTOR in the Franco A msr;can n
success. Ability of the French and
americans TO hold the enemy along the
Marne line also contributed.
me american reserves received or.
uers TO move to the battleline at s n. m
Wednesday Rushed forward in trucks
anu caniions' they arrived within march,
ing distance about midnight. Thev
pesan their hike without deIay ana
reached the front only a short time
oelore the zero hour. yet when they
aoVanced and started chasing the boches
'he3 apparently were as fresh as eye-.
Ihere was no artillery preparation
Ihe artillery suddenly bega,i a rolling
parrage and the tanks and infantry
moved forward. That was all. A heavy
thunderstorm had helped to conceal the
troop movements. but the day broke
bright and clear. 1t was great fighting
weather.
Rescue Captured Frenchmen
One American unit pressed forwa I'd,
so rapidly yesterday afternoon. 1t was
learned today. that they overlook a
party OF captured Frenchmen who were
working on the roads under German
guards. They captured the boches and
released the French. who seized the arms
of their former captors and pressed
forward with their rescuers.
Many of the German soldiers were at
breakfast or were seeking shelter from
the rain when the Allies first went for.
ward yesterday. The Americans had
"breakfasted the night before, and were
without the handicap of observing meal
time. " .
French Cavalry In Action ,ads 4,
The advance was maintained without
interruption up to noon. when the
French and Americans halted briefly to
rest and reorganize. Then they swept
ahead again, advancing farther than In
their first rush. French cavalry swung
ahead with the infantry in the after
noon and aided the Americans in clean
ing up the captured villages.
Americans and French surrounded
and captured entire German batteries,
including all the artillery Of an entire
division.
The Americans carried their full pack
Of thirty pounds on their backs. Most
of our units did not bother with ma
chine guns. It was a straight job Of
rifles, tayonets and grenades.
Take Prisoners Rapidly
The Americans worked their way
through fields and woods and into vii.
lagos. driving the boches before them.
They took prisoners SO rapidly that the
latter became hindrance and were sent
to the rear as rapidly as possible.
Later when other infantry was sent
forward In support they carried up ma
chine guns. These were quickly followed
by held guns and then. heavy artillery.
it was one Of the quickest examples Of
organization In the whole war.
The fighting unity of France and
America was illustrated by the fact that
repeatedly French and American
wounded were carried to the rear in the
same ambulance. Americans drove
French motortrucks and Frenchmen
drove American trucks.
Doughboys, constituting the reserves,
rode forward on trucks and ammunition
wsgons. eating beans and slum as they
bounced over the uneven ground. They
hadn't halted to eat in the last twenty
four hours, but they were grinning and
satisfied at the prospect of eating up
few Heinies.'
The little French ''hy" tanks were
remarkably effective. The Americans
worked behind them like veterans an
they rolled up across the fields and up
the streets of the villages.