New-York tribune., 1918-05-30

demonstrated by the increasing bass
roar of the heavies nearby and the
angry growl Of those shooting at
long range from the rear.
Only the heavies took part in the
preliminary preparation.
An hour Of this and the cracking
"75's" were added to the indescriba-
ble medley of noise. This combina-
tion of concentrated fire told US that
the hour of attack was approaching
Fastening to an observation point
overlooking Cantigny, we saw the
-the-top" moment come on ou1
watches, and knew that the men
were crawling over the parapets
Cantigny was hiduen by pail of
smoke from the bursting shells
Boche sausages' hung above and
slightly to the rear. Airplanes
carrying the American flag painted
On their tails skinned low over the
smoke waves, forcing the enemy's
aircraft guns to fire frantically at
the closest range, but fruitlessly at
such audaciously lodging targets.
Airplanes watching the progress
of the battle reported by wireless as
the American waves progressed.
We saw the creeping barrage slow
ly cross "No Mans. Land" and then
light in the small wooded ravine in
front of the village where the trees
have been stripped by months
constant shelling.
White Rocket Shows Victory
Through binoculars which failed
to penetrate the haze beyond the
barrage we saw the blunt end of two
male tanks as they crept forward.
We knew that just behind the tanks
were the American doughboys, but
even our powerful binoculars failed
to separate them from the faint
brown surface of the battlefield, so
we'll the khaki blended with the
earth and smoke.
1t was this way for many min
utes. The barrage's smoke hid the
village as it swept over the battered
buildings. 1t was a white rocket,
hardly discernible against the sky
above the smoke, that told US that
the Americans had reached their OBJ
jectives.
We cheered and cheered and tried
to imagine the scenes in the capt
ured village. AS we came back over
the roads unmolested by the enemy's
shells, so we'll had our artillery
pounded the enemy's batteries, we
learned, bit by bit, of the grenade
fights in Cantigny, where some of
the prisoners resisted, and where
others readily threw up their hands.
We saw the first small group of
prisoners coming back and walk
ing, wounded American. He had a
broad grin on his Pittsburgh face
and couldn't resist saying: "That's
handin' it to them Huns, blankety-
blank 'em!" He went over the top
and got it in the arm early in the
game. All he saw was smoke.
A French officer of battery of
"75's" which were firing stopped to
offer me brass shell case with the
words, "C'est un souvenir de
splendide Americaine bataille de
Cantigny" ("It is souvenir of the
splendid American battle of Can
tigny.")
Writer Forced To Take Prisoners
James Hopper. a war correspondent,
who advanced fifty yards behind the
American troops into the outskirts of
Cantigny, was surprised to find him
prisoners who forced themselves into
the hands of this well-known Amer
lean writer.
Unlike most war correspondents,
Hopper writes for an American weekly.
Inc correspondents for daily news
papers were advised not to cross No
Mans Land. because of the Prob
| aoiiity of their being cut off from
tnelr own lines for hours and prob
aoly days by enemy shellfre, thus
making 1T impossible for them to send
cable stories. Hopper. unhampere
t cy .lme, acted on final impulse and
followed the doughboys behind the bar
rage. AS 1T developed, the German ar
;ulicry was so paralyzed by the Amer
lcah nigh explosives and gas that Hop
per was able to act as stretcher bearer
Tor mile from the field dressing sta
tion. He arrived in the rear few
hours later.
"The American barrage was beaut;.
fui," said Hopper. Our American
shock troops, which we saw ;n 'tha ~
maneuvres few days ago, then ap-
pesred TO be an unenthusiastc lot. but
this morning they were magnificent,
ihose that followed deployed from
oehind the wood, following the lum-
bering tanks. They then started on a
victorious walk behind that inverse
Niagara Falls of fire like supermen
Three waves preceded me. | followed
batch of fellows who had mach;ns
guns on their shoulders.
The barrage seemed literally tn
plough up the ground. Those whom
followed swept to the left Of the
village. Fifty yards behind I found
myself looking at tank which was
hring ITS cannon into building which
stood at the corner of a street. va.