The sun., 1918-10-22
us. TROOPS WIN TWO
WOOD STR0NGHOLDS
Sharp Attacks Gain Possession
of Rape and Bantheville
Forests Near Grand Pre-.
HILL FLANKED AND TAKEN
Bombing Expedition Downs Ii
Enemy Airplanes without
Any American Loss.
HILL FLANKED AND TAKEN
BY the associated Press


WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY NORTH
WEST OF VERpuN, Oct. 21.-The Amer
lean attack, though on a comparatively
small scale to-day. was entirely success
full The Bots de Rappc and formid-
able hill. No, 800. both points Of strates-
ic Importance, were rushed and cleared
Of the enemy within three hours despite
unusual machine gun opposition,
The artillery on both sides was fairly
active throughout the day and the avia-
tors were up from early until late. but
the infantry action was confined to two
local operations.
The advance on the Bots de Rappe be-
gan just before noon. The wood was
infested with machine guns, which were
not entirely eliminated by the brief pre-
paratory Smelling. Despite every effort
OF the Germans, however. the Americans
steadily forced their way ahead driv-
ing tho enemy before them, and at 3
o'clock in the afternoon were in COM
plete possession OF the wood.
About $50 Germans Captured.
Hill 300 fell almost simultaneously
with the Bots dc Rape. which out
Ranked II. The Germans consequently
retired hastily from the height when It
appeared that the Americans had been
successful in forcing their passage
through the wood. Only $50 Germans
were taken prisoner.
Another minor success for the Amer
leans was the expulsion of the enemy
from his last positions in Bantheville
Wood. He had hung on to the northern
edges of this machine gun stronghold,
from which ii was possible to direct a
harassing enfilading fire.
1t is the purpose OF the German COM
mand to dispute every foot OF the
American advance on the line west or
the Meuso and to infiict the heaviest
possible losses. according to German
prisoners captured Sunday. They added
that the Americans in taking sover this
sector would find more formidable OPP
position than any place else on the
front and would suffer accordingly A
strong German defence was necessary
| on this sector, they said. because II
| was necessary to stand firm while the
German lines northward TO the North
Sea were being readjusted.
| Eighteen Enemy Planes DOwned.
| In the All American bombing expedi-
ton behind the German lines Friday
American pursuit airplanes Drought Gown
| eighteen German machines. Most OF the
victories have been confirmed officially
| Not one American machine was lost
making the day stand out in the history
OF American aviation.
During the expedition the American
machines met and vanGuished severa
| enemy formations OF thirty-hve and
forty airplanes each. Among the Amer
leans who brought down German ma
chimes Friday are the following;
| Lieut.. Cleveland McDermott of SYRIA
cuse three. and Lieut.. Chester Wright
! of Brookline, Mass, two: Lieut. Albert
| Weatherhead of Cleveland, Ohio Lieut.
Wier Cook OF Muncie. Ind. Lieut. Sum
ner Sewall of Bath. Me Lieut.. Lowell
| Harding OF Washington. d. c. Lieut.. w
| T.. Goulding of New York, Lieut. Clntor
Jones OF San Francisco, Lieut.. Reming
ton Vernon OF New York, Lieut.. Dickin
son Este OF Philadelphia and Lieut.
! Charles Dolive OF Chicago, one each.
| Lieuts. Wright and Harding got an
! other enemy machine between them
| while Capt. Charles Biddle OF Andalusia
Pa Lieut.. william A. Stovall of Sto
vail, Miss. and Lieut.. Walter Evers o.
Columbus. Ohio, brought down another
| On the opening day Of the Meuse-Ar
gonne offensive American aviator'
| brought down nineteen German ma
! chimes, hut sixteen American airDlane'
were either lost or damaged. On FRIDAY
only one American machine was forced
| TO land. That was the one piloted by
Lieut.. McDermott, and he landed neal
/. Brieulles. HIS machine was brought II
Saturday by infantrymeE.