Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-09-05
Break German Line

other towns hehind the German lines
are reported in flames.
By the Associated Press
With the American Army on Vesle,
Sept. 5.
Americans, with the French moving
with them on their left. have advanced
from the Nesle TO the edge of the
plateau along line from Brenelle
VauNcere, Blanzy and Baslieux. The
Germans nearest this line. along
which they might make a rear-guard
defense of any consequence. are oppo-
site the edge of the plateau parallel
ing the Aisne, over which it is obvi.
Gus that they have removed their
stores and heavy artillery.
The advance of the Americans in
force began at 4 o'clock yesterday
morning, and patrols. one after an
other have been going over all day
and meeting sharp resistance at some
points.
Orders reached the American com
manders before daylight to send out
patrols to investigate and their re
ports caused the immediate dispatch
of supporting patrols Before night.
fall large part of the army which
had been camping along the Nesl'
was in action on the slopes north of
| the river. And there was action. not
withstanding that the Germans al
| ready had taken the initiative in their
withdrawal
| Bazoches and Fismette were occupied
| by the Americans last night.
Wade and Swim yesle
! The troops crossed the Nesle in three
ways-on the bridges which held
| agains. the German guns and air bombs,
on the trunks of trees felled as spbSti-
! tutes for bridges. and by. alternately
wading and swimming. Although off,
cially characterized as patrols, the ag-
gregate of troops sent across during yes
terday was quite large enough to hold
the advantage gained
! For a few hundred yards north of the
Nesle there is a succession of slopes cut
by ravines, extending down to the river
1t was up these slopes and not by way
of the ravines that the Americans
worked their way. Every ravine and
other depression was avoided, for the
| Germans had filled these with gas
While the advancing troops were able
for the most part to dodge the gas, they
were not able to escape altogether the
machine-gun fire.
Machine-Gun Nests Everywhere
| The resistance the Americans enCoun-
ters6 was from machine guns and air
planes Almost every cover on virtu-
ally every slope sheltered a machine
gun nest. the operators Of which un-
successfully endeavored to check the ad-
vance. The densest concentration was
along the ridges north of Bazoches and
Fismette, and in at least two instances
desperate efforts were made to hold
back the thin line of the advancing
forces.
The Americans rushed the machine
guns only in exceptional cases. More
frequently they worked around the nests
until they had the German at a disad-
vantage, the artillery in some cases do
ing the work for the infantrymen.
U. S. Guns Destroy Munitions
Fires which were seen at various
places had given rise to reports that
the Germans were burning villages and
farm houses. but this has not been gen.
orally accepted as a fact, the smoke
clouds seen being attributed to the de-
struction of ammunition by the Allied
shells in some instances anC in more
numerous cases to the destruction Of
supplies that it was impossible to re-
move and the burning of temporary
building. They have not burned the
French towns in this region, perhaps
because the buildings are of stone con-
struction and also because most of then
In the zone of fighting are already meth
ing more than ruins.
The German aviators contributed ma
terially to the rear guard defense
Every yand the French and American:
advanced was noted by the enemy
aviators. who also took an active par
In the effort to stOD the A. llied DrOgress
but in the long run their efforts were al
Intellectual as those of the line of ma
chine-gun nests. The airmen repeated!
bombed the Americans and let loos
: with their machine guns while fyini
: low. The light forces advancing. how
ever, were never more than momen
tarly checked as after disposing them
: selves for defense in way their mobile
formation made possible. their progres
: would be resumed after moment or SO
The spirit of the men had been un
impaired by the long hammering the,
: have had on the Vesle line. If anything
! the effect had been to stimulate then
to a keener desire to get at the enemy.
Washington, Sept. b. American
troops, in close pursuit of the German
retiring north of the Nesle, have cap
tured the villages of Bazoches Paars
Fismette and Daaleu, taking prisoner
, and machine guns General Pershin
reported in his communlque received las
- night at the War Department.
. The American forces, General Pei
2 sh.ng said, have reached the genera
3 line Vauxcere- e-Blanzy-le-Grand Hamear
e American aviators also have success
fully bombed the railroad yards 9