The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-09-07
BOCHES RETIRE
IN VESLE VALLEY
To Right Of AmeriCans-Men.
aCed by Salient |nCreas-
ing in Danger.
YANKS FACE DEADLY FIRE
But Reply in Kind and With In
terest - Consequences
Frightful for Foe.

With the American Army on the
Vcsle Front, Friday. Sept. 6.-Menaced
by n salient increasing in danger. the
Germans today began withdrawal
from the Vesle valley TO the right OF
the Americans. On the west flank the
Americans held firmly while the French
exerted sharp pressure on the rear, but
there has developed a situation con-
siderably different from that of the
past few days in the region westward
towards scissors. The Germans fought
more nearly In the spirit OF their ira
ditions, but slowly this continued TO
give way, leaving little doubt that the
line from near Rheims to that now
along the Aisne would be quickly
Strengthened.
The struggle is being made to the
Americans right and has placed them
in n position where they are subject
to n heavy enfilade. especially by the
artillery. Despite desperate resistance
they swung their line forward to its
junction with the French, where the
most determined resistance was en-
countered. Moro broken country Of
fers better opportunities for defense
tage of every hillside and ravine in
placing their artillery and machine
guns. The Americans were forced to
face deadly barrage, while barriers
of gas were raised In every ravine
down which they might advance.
Germans Die at Posts.
An equally destructive artillery re-
sponse was made by the Americans,
however and tho men, already tried
In previous engagements advanced
steadily, driving out the machine gun
nests one after another.
The Germans held their positions
along a machine gun line stubbornly
many of them dying at their posts. but
the total mortality was not great since
only machine gunners were left in the
rear line, 1t Is probable, however. that
the German losses were large as a re-
suit of counter artillery fire. Some
thirty prisoners were brought In today
from that part Of the sector on the
Americans right.
Because of the better terrain the
Germans can afford to retreat here
more slowly and from their positions
they can exact higher price in re-
turn for their withdrawal. 1t is in
evitable at the same time that they.
too. must pay dearly. The result is a
tion is that of the cost in men.
Supplemented by French.
Today the Germans enfiladed the
who on their part replied
In kind and with interest while the
French supplemented their work with
what must have been frightful conse-
quences for the Germans.
The slowing down of the German re-
treat from the Aisne has enabled the
and French to bring up
supplies and artillery and get into the |
line the full strength desired for for |
ward positions. The Germans. Of
course. have had the same opportunity |
to place their artillery in position. with
the result that artillery action today |
was enlivened and may be expected to
Increase until new move toward the
Chemin des- Danes is made. That the !
Germans will establish themselves on
that line there Is almost no doubt |
This conclusion is reached from state
nents made by prisoners and substan-
lated by circumstances incident to the
operations.
Success Astonishing.
The Americans concluded today their
across the plateau and down
he slopes toward the river. They were
made targets, but the move
nent was accomplished with astonish-
ng success, Notwithstanding the Ger
Mans intimate knowledge Of the aban-
loned territory and their excellent op-
,ortunity for observation. French air.
,lanes assigned to this front were re-
daring and efficient In their
mora tiOps