davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1918-09-07
German Air Forces
Far From Adeouate

LONDON, Sept. 6.-The storm contra
OF British aerial activity throughout
the week has been the sector from
Lens to Peronne, the airmen materjallv
assisting IN piercing the immenselv
strong Hindenburg defsnces and har-
asslng the retreating enemy. German
organizations behind the Wotan I;na
including the vital railways radiatino
from Valenciennes, were heayilS
bombed ''s
IN the course of the week l66 tons of
explosives were dropped in the battle
area. Nlnety-two enemy machines wera
destroyed and forty-tive disabled. while
seventy-tive British machines were re-
ported as missing
There are indications that the aerial
reserves Of the enemy are seriously
depleted. A captured document lavs
stress on the necessity OF salvaging to
the uttermost all bits of airplanes
which have crashed behind the German
lines. The document says:
In view of the situation as reoards 9
raw material. our airplane industry il
more and more reduced to relying on
the working up of instruments and
motors saved from destroyed airplanes,
l he supply of material for the front
mas NJ, become essentially dependent upon
the return Of waste material from t,n
front" '''0
New-York tribune., 1918-09-07
Battle 100 Miles
of Forced Germans
To Quit the Vesle
(By The Associated Press)

AMERICAN ARMY HEADQUAR-
TIERS IN FRANCE, Sept. 5 (Evening).
The way in which the Germans along
the Vesle were put to flight by blow
struck many miles to the west of them
was neat example Of strategical Of
fensive.
Had we attempted to force the line
of the Vesle tactically we should have
lost at least 10000 men, and possibly
three times that number. By the blow
struck on the scissors Plateau, how
ever-a blow which in any case was
inevitable-the Vesle has been cleared
in the operations along the Ailette. BY
those same operations some of the
finest divisions of the German army
have been prevented from holding up
the British advance, and the linden
burg line thus has been broken by
battle nearly 100 miles away from it.
Though the German withdrawal
from the Vesle is the most showy
event in this sector, by far the most
serious one was their defeat between
Terny-Sorny and the Ailette. 1t is no
wonder that their troops were COM
manded to resist to the last man, since
if they are unable to hold the neck of
the hin to the south OF Vauxaillon
they will have to withdraw their en-
tire garrison from the Pont Rouge
Plateau and fall back to the last ridge
from which the flank of the Chcmin
des Danes can be defended.
New-York tribune., 1918-09-07
Americans Pursue
Refreating Foe in
Armed Motor Cars
(By The Associated Press

WITH THE AMERICAN FORCES
ON THE AISNE FRONT, Thursday,
Sept. 5.-ln their endeavor to keep up
with the Germans, who are retreating
beyond the river Aisne, the Americans
have organized automobile machine
gun detachments, with three men to
each car. More than thirty cars were
operating north of the Vesle River
early to-day.
AS not much German infantry had
been sighted, the automobile machine
gunners were uncertain just where
their advance might lead them The
outfit had supplies of food and equip
ment to enable them TO keep after the
Germans for days.
AS the Americans pressed forward it
was different sight than that which
had greeted them in their advance
from the Marne to the Vesle From
me me Hesie nolthward over the plateau
the Germans had cleaned up virtually
everything, taking with them all of
value or of use and burning that
which they could not move northward
or which might be of use to the French
and Americans. Between the Marine
and the Vesle the Germans had left
great stores of supplies and ammuni-
ton becaues of their hasty withdrawal.
The roads on the plateau north of
the Nesle were in fairly good condi-
ton, although in some places over ra-
vines the Germans had endeavored to
destroy small bridges. Engineers
quickly repaired the roads. and Ameri
cans on foot and on horseback and
mule teams, automobile trucks and
motorcycles went ahead along grain
nelds overrun with weeds and passed
villages with houses shot to pieces.
but nowhere encountering anything of
military value.
The plateau for every few miles was
dotted with frames of German air
dromes, from some of which. the Amer.
leans say, German raiders who bor,hod
Paris operated. Three or four of these
frames stand in aviation fields at a
score Of places: The American officers
believe that this plateau must have
New-York tribune., 1918-09-07

Chemin dcs Danes before his retreat
IS complete.
The enemy retreat thus far has been
a complete success. He has left prac
tlcally nothing Of value behind and the
only prisoners he has lost are few
stragglers and members of a sparselv
scattered machine gun soladror VIA
mad remained behind to create an occa-
slonal demonstrations.
called at Headquarters of tho .,.,,,,,
corns before noon to-day. where re-
ports from the advance line were slow
~ hlterlng IN. Later headuuarters was
informed that patrols were feelin~
the:r way forward practically without
ehcounterlng the enemy. Later in
overlooking the. actual battlefield from
a tree and talking with American artil
lerymen learned the envy had failed
dis smally. '''''' u
The most impressive part Of tba
entire scene. which | watched two
hours, were the towers OF Laon's great
cathedral. They seemed to beckon
through the haze. and POSSIBLY their an
peal will be answered before many
Gays. Just over the Chemin des Danes
IS the Laon plateau, and beyond lies
!ne city: AT any rate. this was the
1uea OF Private Paul Spang, of 1875 Sew
enth Avenue, New York City. whom 7
met IN the woods where the tree van
'"g9 point was located this afternoon.
would Ike to see that town." he
remarked. and probably Tll get a
tnnmce ta.l before long. But there is one
town ia really Ike to sec lust now
and it has a street called Proa,,,"o'.' mvW' ,
nut l am going TO see France first
while | am here - 0
New-York tribune., 1918-09-07
American Army to
Strike Blow Soon,
Officials Predict
Foch's Plan Believed To Be
to Use u. S. Troops
i'm New Drive

WASHINGTON. Sept. 6.-Thc hosr
when General Pershing's army will he
thrown into the battle is rapidly al
rroaching, in the opinion of many OF
ficers and officials of the War Depart,
ment.
Developments to-day indicated to
these observers that the German with.
drawal was nearing the point when
Marshal Foch would make use of every
available weapon to prevent the enemy
from making stand in his old posi-.
tons along the Hindenburg line.
Reports from the front indicated
that the Germans were acceleratine
their withdrawal along wide front
before the French and British armies.
which are pressing urgently on their
heels.
Apparently, it was said, the enemy
leaders feel that the line has been
tralghtened out sufficiently to permit
quick withdrawal the rest of the way
to old, we'll fortified lines from which
they launched their great drive last
March. The fact that the British al
ready have broken across the old line
on She Douai-Cambrai front is re
Garded as the spur which is jmpelling
tne Germans to rush the last stage ot
their withdrawal.
There is no doubt among observers
here that Marshal Foch has mapped
out q plan by which he hopes to pre-
vent the enemy from settling into his
o!a !lnes and reverting again TO trench
warfare. 1t IS argued that if the enemy
attempts to hold the Hindenburg line
or such of it as he can. he will have
TO mass reserves to do it. A new at
tack, tar TO the south and east of the
present battle area, would compel him
also TO rush reserves TO that front. and
IL Is IN such an attack that many Off
clals are confident that General Per-
shlng's army will be employed
1t IS noted here that no effort has
been made by Marshal Foch to extend
the action to the front east OF Rheims
thus far The sector between that
place and Nerdun has been completely
quiet through the fierce fighting to tn
north: Many officers think an attack
may be launched there with the objec.
OF turning the whole German line
northward, and that probably stimuli
taneous attack would be delivered be-
yond Verdun, where the original Amer
lcan sector lies. to complete this con-
ceptlon Of wide turning movement
! against the enemy positions in north
ern France
The st. Mihiel salient. where the
! German lines thrust forward beyond
Verdun on the west, might offer a
chance for Foch's favorite pincer tao
tics, some officers think. There are in
dlcations that this front is held By
Americans. with the exception OF the
defences Of Nerdun itself and the line
Just to the south of that city.
II General Pershing should strike
suddenly toward Metz and meet with
any. success, it is thought the enemy
might be forced to evacuate the whole.
st. Mihiel bend and that the pursuit o.
that retirement could be expanded a.
will into action of whatever scope Mar
shal Foch had authorized.
New-York tribune., 1918-09-07
GERMAN
BERLIN


passed quietly along the battlefront.
There were minor engagements in
the area fronting our positions.
BERLIN DAY). Enemy recon
noitring detachments which were
feeling their way forward between
ipres and La Bassee. and which
broke forward north Of Lens under
strong outbursts of FIRE, were re-
pulsed. During the evening Hessian
troops drove back several enemy at
tecks between Ploegsteert and Ar
menticres In these operations they
made more than one hundred prison
ers. There was successful thrust
into British trenches near Hulluch.
In front Of our new positions Wig
orous infantry engagements de
veloped on the Bapaume- Cambrai
road, at the Havrincourt Wood and
on the heights of the Tortille sector
Strong attacks which the enemy car
ried out from the Neuville- -Manan
court-Moislans line were repulsed.
From Peronne and over the Somme
the enemy yesterday only hesitat-
ingly followed our rearguards. Be
tween the Somme and the Disc he
crossed after them more keenly, and
New-York tribune., 1918-09-07
Says Foch Learned
Hindenburg's Trick

Marshal Foch is credited by some Of
the German newspapers with adontin,,
a, new method Of defence learned from
il'naehOnrs,n u safd h' ~ The Allied commander
Of the Berlin "Vorwarts" to have an
pled the method to the defensive fight
ing Just before the great Allied often
sive We, began at the Marne salient in .Julv
The method is described as a witb.
arawal OF troops from the first line and
p1;i"ci"g tne main force on the second
German artillery.
Enemy batteries were in such deem
tormation." writes the "Vorwarts" cor r.
respondent, that their barrage struck
the German attack not in front of the
hrst iine but only in front of the sec
from Hindenburg, naturally demands -
new method of attack which will not be
long in coming
New-York tribune., 1918-09-07
FRENCH

PARIS (NIGHT) On the whole of
the front between the Sommc and
the Aisnc the advance of our troops
has not slackened during the day, in
spite of the efforts of the Germans
to stem it, particularly to the north
Of the Ailette.
We hold Ham and Chauny.
To the east of the Canal du Nord
we have brought our front on line
running past Launchy, the forest Of
VillersSt. Chrstophc, Estoully, east
of Ham; Brouchy, Villeselve, Ugny-
leGay. Viry Noureuil and northeast
of Chany
Since yesterday our troops have
made progress in several places to a
depth Of ten kilometres (six miles).
To the north of the Ailette we
have occupied the Bassee Forest of
Coucy up to Petit Barisis. The Ger
mans were compelled to abandon in
the forest materials and considerable
munitions depots.
III 0AeI w viz ilSho, We HoiO llS
outskirts Of Fresnes, Quincy -Bassee,
Lizieres, west of VauXallon and the
LaffauX Farm.
We have reoccupied our old
trenches on the whole of the front
to the north of the Aisne. South Of
the Asne the Americans have made
further progress in the region of
Villers- -Prayeres and Revillon.
PARIS DAY) In the course of
the night we continued to advance on
the the entire front between the
Somme and the Nesle Our troops
continued to cross the Somme in the
region of Epenancourt. and further
south pushed forward at several
points as far as the road from Ham to
Pcronne. South OF Ham the French
occupied lie Plessis-P Patte- dole and
Bcrlancourt, and passed beyond
Giuvry, acknowledgements and Able
court.
North of the Ailette We attained
the approaches to Sinccny and the
plateau north Of Landricourt. South
of the Ailette we are along the NauX-
aillon ravine.
On the Vesle front the American
carried their lines as fa~ as the out
skirts of Nillers- en- Prayercs and oc-
cupied Glennes
New-York tribune., 1918-09-07

rAR1S, Sept. 6 1885 P. M.).-Gen-
eral Debeney's army is advancing
steadily in the direction of Ham, which
has been completely encircled.
General Humbert's army. on Dcbe-
ney's left, also is making steady prog
ress today in Che region of Guiscard
and Ham. Advices from the battlefront
say Ham virtually has been taken by
the French forces.
General Mangin's troops now are in
sight Of Laon, having reached positions
within ten miles of that city.
General Berthelot's soldiers have
reached the Aisne or n wide front
Berthelot's army at last reports held
the sector just west of Rheims.
The capture Of Coucy-le- Chateau by
the French makes the German positions
on the Chemin des Danes. precarious
New-York tribune., 1918-09-07
French Guns Pounds Gobain S Wood
AS 1917 Battle Line Is Reached

somewhat behind schedule. by time
fused mine left by the Germans.
The advance of the French troops
over this region, devastated last year
and upheaved again after having been
only partly restored is surprisingly
rapid. The Germans are finding great
difficulty in breaking contact with the
advance guard at points from which
they are quite ready to get away.
The marvellous organization of the
French supply department and the un-
diminished ardor of the French troops
are overcoming the greatest difficulties
of communication and transportation.
The Germans last night we're de-
stroying bridges and flooding the coun-
try between Chauny and La Fere, which
is a good indication that they do not
expect to remain much longer in ad-
vance of their old line. which ran from
La Fere to- Barisis. In their retreat
east of the Ailette River their columns
suffered very heavy losses from she'll
New-York tribune., 1918-09-07
BRITISH

LONDON (NIGHW On the south
ern portion of the battlefront our
progress continues in close touch
with the French army on our right.
South of Peronne we already are
nearly seven miles east of the Somme
and advancing on the general line of
Monchy-Lagache, Vraignes and Tin
court, all OF which places arc in our
hands.
The resistance Of the enemy's
countering troops, who had attempted
to delay our advance, has been rapidly
overcome, and number of prisoners
have been taken in this sector.
South of the Cologne River. on the
high ground about Nurlu. the enemy
has contested our advance with
greater stubbornness. Sharp fighting
took place about this village and
around Equancourt, in the valley
north Of 1t. Both these villages now
are in possession Of our troops
New-York tribune., 1918-09-07

been the principal German avia,io,
site for operating against Paris and the
districts in between.
The canvas coverings for the hangers
we're taken by the Germans when tber
retired. and the wooden frames were 81
damaged by shells that they are vir,u.
ally worthless.
Behind the advancing Americans in
the desoiatc valley Of the Ves!e, bc
tween Bazoches and Fismette, the Ger.
mans burned he fire ght ears along tho
railroad. and twisted skeletons of tho
cars are standing on the tracks. The
trees along the roadway between Ba.
zoches and Fismettc had been cut down
by German saws and German shells
] he stone houses in Fismette havs
she'll holes in their sides and roofs
and some were smashed by German
BON bers. who endcavored to drive GU.
rho A M a,carc
New-York tribune., 1918-09-07
(By The Associated Press)

WITH THE FRENCH ARMIES IN
THE FIELD, Sept. 6 "a ftermoOn) =
French troops this afternoon reached
Petit Barsis, on the eastern side of
the lower forest of Coucy and imme-
diately in front of the Hindenburg
line.
(Noon) French cavalry this morn
ing passed through the town of
Chauny from which the enemy had
fled. The troopers are advancing tow
ard Tergnier, four and one-half miles
northeast of Chauny, and have reached
the region of Viry-N -Noureuil, two and
cne-half miles from Tergnier
(Mo1ning).-At the present rate Of
progress the Entente Allies will soon
have driven the Germans from all the
ground gained by them this year and
the offensive operations may enter
new phase.
Near Latfaux General Mangins men
are within four miles of the Chemin
des Danes and only ten miles from the
citadel.
The forest Of St. Gobain, which shell
tered the first long-range gun that
shelled the Paris region and which was
the cornerstone of the Hindenburg
turns to the eastward along the Chemin
des Danes, is under the fire of French
guns over it's whole extent.
Just south Of the River Disc the
Germans this morning were still resist
ing at Sinceny, between the river and
the lower forest of Coucy, with the
evident object Of gaining additional
time to save their material further
south.
fo1 I,
1917 front. North of Landicourt the
French are fighting from their old first
line of trenches, while q little to the
southeast they are approaching that
line at the ravine of Vauxaillon.
Germans Burning Material
The retreat of the Germans during
the last two days has assumed O strong
resemblance to that of March of last
year. The horizon at night glows with
the light of conflagrations, for which,
however, the Germans themselves are
this time furnishing most of the fuel
in their own stores of supplies that
the pressure of the Allies has obliged
the enemy either to leave on the spot
or destroy.
Death traps are being left behind by
the enemy, as they were last year.
Noyon, for instance, was full of them
The engineering corps is still at work
seeking them out and where possible
making them harmless. Noyon, how
ever, Is hreequartcrs destroyed by ex-
plosions of mines to which time fuses
had been attached and by the intense
Smelling to which the town was sub
jected before the Germans were driven
out Of range.
The Chateau Of Bethancourt, west Of
Guiscard, was blown up this morning,
New-York tribune., 1918-09-07
u. S. Patrols
Fight Enemy
On Aisne Line
Germans Prepare to Make
Stand After Retreat
From the Vesle
lRn Tie .Associntcf pressl


WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY
ALONG THE AISNE, Sept. at 4 .
N.D-The American line on the Aisne
front extended this forenoon through
Revillon and across (deieted) and then
southeaster!y to the line held by the
French The latter had not yet left
their positions westward from Rheims.
One indication that the Germans IN
tend to delay their departure from the
Aisne to the Chemjn des DANES was
supplied by the putting into action
again Of their long-ranGe naval piece.
Shells from this gun fell during the
night upon Fismes and its environs.
The character of the fighting since
yesterday has not changed. The ma
chine gin nests were found perhaps
somewhat more numerous and the ar
tillery action at times was bit
heavier. But concentrated defensive
action was still lacking.
There are indications of another
temporary stabilization of the lines
The Americans progressed during the
night and this forenoon, until the main
line was just in front of the Aisne po-
sitions, and the American patrols were
in contact with those Of the Geymans
on the wooded slopes.
The Germans apepAr to have estab-
lished themselves in force along the
big canal parallelins the river, and
there is little doubt that they will con-
test from there the advance of both the
French and the Americans.
American forces yesterday afternoon
occupied the towns of Dhuizel and
Barbonval, virtually without opposi-
tion.
New-York tribune., 1918-09-07
The Official. Statements

Pressing forward beyond this line,
we have captured Longavenes and
Licramont, and arc approaching Metz
eh-Couturc and the southern portion
of the Havrincourt Wood. A number
OF prisoners have been taken on this
part of the battlefront.
North Of La Basscc Canal local
lighting has taken place west of La
Bassee and east Of Bac-St. Maur. We
captured a few prisoners in the latter
locality.
Our line has been advanced slightly
opposite Erquinghcm and southeast
of Ypres.
LONDON (DAY) .-Yesterday our
troops forced crossings of the Sommc
south of Peronne in the face of the
vigorous resistance of the encmy's
rcarguerds on the east bank of the
river. The villages of st. Chris
Briest and lie Mesnil- -Bruntel were
captured, with number Of prisoners.
and our troops, pressing forward
astride the Amiens-St. Quentine road.
have reached Athes and Mons-en-
Chaussec.
East of Peronne we have taken
Doingt and have made important
progress on the high ground between
Peronne and Nurlu. We hold Bussu
and are close to Templeux- la -Fosse.
Nurlu and Equancourt. Sharp fight
ing took place last night on this line.
On the Lys front ground was
gained by our troops during the night
west OF La Basstc, and an attack
upon one of our new posts in this
locality was successfully beaten of.
AS the result of their continued
progress yesterday and last night our
troops are established in portions of
the old German front line east of
Neuve Chapelle, and The old British
front line III the Fauquissart sector
IS again held by us.
BY successful attack carried ont
yesterday evening English troops ad
Vanced on the line northwest of Ar
mcntleres, capturing several pris
New-York tribune., 1918-09-07

and virtually untcnable, accordlng 10
French military officers.
German Retreat Reported
The Germans are rctrcating rapidly
all along the front south of the Somme.
AS Henry Bidou points out in the
journal dcs Debats," the Battle Of the
Marine is being reproduced with the po
sitions reversed. Six German armies
are recoiling, closely pressed by seven
or eight Allied armies, as was the case
with the Allied forces four years ago
The Allied armies form an arc of a
circle inc.osing the Germans, and, just
as in the Marine battle, the fight RACES.
now on the centre and now on one or
the other wing. Each move is made
with such skill and dccisiveness that its
effect is felt in every part of the line.
New-York tribune., 1918-09-07

IN the evening he stood west Of the
Ham, -Chauny line. Also, between the
Disc and the Aisne, the freeing of
ourselves from the enemy was COM
pleted according to plan. Our posts
stand in fighting contact with him
OH the Amigny Barisis Laffaux
Conde line.
East of Soissons the enemy has fol-
lowed us across the Veslc. Our in
fantry detachments and artillery.
which held him up for a long time.
have inflicted losses upon him. On
the northeast Of Fismes strong Amor.
New-York tribune., 1918-09-07
= Y q = { u !.
AMERICAN

September .. Section A. - Our
troops, continuing their advance in
cooperation with the French, have
crossed The plateau north of the
Vesle and have reached the crest of
the slopes leading to the valley Of the
Aisnc
New-York tribune., 1918-09-07
Spires of Laon
Spur N. Y. Boys
AZ, Chasing Foe

Continued from page I,
New-York tribune., 1918-09-07
Ham Encircled and Laon Threatened
ByNew Advances of French Troops

and virtually untcnable, according to
French military officers.