The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-11-05
Stiffest Kind of Resistance
Fails to Impede Their
Progress
SEDAN AND BRIEY
IN REACH OF GUNS
Further Advance Endan-
gers Retreat of Germans
By Railroads
(By Associated Prezs.l

With the American Army on the
Sedan Front. Nov. 5. 1918 D. m.--
Bitter fighting is taking place today
along the Meuse river. American pa
trolls again have succeeded in cross
ing the river at Brieulles on pom
toon bridge constructed under fire
At other points along the river the
Americans were reconnoitering other
crossings. The Germans have blown
up the bridge across the Meuse be-
tween Laneuville, on the west bank,
and the important town OF Stenay,
on the east bank.
Met Fierce Resistance
The German resistance encounter
ed by the american troops on virtu-
alp all parts Of the front was the
feature Of the fighting yesterday.
The opposition was especially stub
born on the right and left hanks,
where the enemy brought up rein
forcements and defended himself
with machine guns and artillery.
The American left wing pushed
forward slowly, but doggedly. The
Americans occupied Verrieres and
Coches! The right wing worked its
way down the river Meuse and
reached a Inc between Beaufort and
Beauclair and north of Halles and
Wiseppe. This flank met with the
most stubborn resistance from the
enemy who fought bitterly to pre-
vent encroachment on the important
town of Stenay.
American troops in mass made no
effort to cross the hiver Meuse. Pa
trolls encountered heavy machine gun
and artillery fire at every attempt.
They remained at nfghtfan upon the
west bank.
-WhirIwind Advance
The center moved so fast that
they took prisoner German reinforce
ments coming to aid their comrades
in the front lines.
Germanys French Towns
livered by the Americans, reflects
the spirit of vindictiveness display
ed by the Germans when they are
forced to abandon a region they have
held for any considerable time. The
town had been almost wholly Ger
manized. French civilians had dis
appeared a long time ago and the
signs over the shops were all in Ger
man. On the streets and avenues
such names as Wilnelmstrasse had
been substituted for those in French.
Teuton DeviIishness
There was evidence that the Ger
mans had carried on the usual ac-
tfvities in the municipality but with
complete contempt for previous con-
ditions and with desire to wipe
out any suggestion as to those who
had formerly lived there. Their de-
parture, however, was marked as in
other cases, by a desire to leave des-
oIation behind them. From end to
end Of the streets Of the town md
the houses reek with the stencil Of
nth. The place was scene OF loot,
uanton destruction and enfoulment.
Made a Poor Guess
The importance OF the new posi-
tions gained by the Anericans, nota-
bly, the heights south of Beaumont,
may be gauged by a declaration by
the chief of staff shortly before the
news came that the Germans had be-
gun to retreat.
Sunday noon the correspondent
had asked IS to whether the Amer-
lean long range bombardment had
been reached. The officer gave Is as
his opinion that a further advance
OF from nine to ten miles was neces-
sary before the bombardment could
become effective. nor did he antici-
pate that it would be possible to ae-
riously disturb the German commit
nications for days to come.
Within an hour the German re-
treat had begun and during the day
that followed more than twelve
miles had been gained.
In aerial lighting yesterday be-
tween American and enemy ma
chimes, thirty German airplanes were
brought down and three balloons de-
stroyed. Seven Of the American
planes are missing.