Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-09-13
REPULSE
HUN COUNTERATTACK
[Continued from First Page.J

fdGc.I
the battle from the vantage point OF
| French fort close behind the mid
die of the line.
Try to Save Guns
The Germans last night and early
| to-day were attempting to remove
| their artillery through the town of
Nigneulles, under the stress of the
American attack on the st. Mihiel
salient. They were meeting with
the greatest difficulty, however
being hampered by airplanes as we'll
as by artillery fire.
The enemy already has lost a
number of cannon and trench NOR
ters besides a huge number of ma
chine guns.
Brilliant Prelude to Drive
The front over which the attack
was made was so extended that the
brilliant bands OF vivid light soon
stretched from far eastward to west
ward lighting up the clouds. Soon
there began to rise star shells signal
rockets and flares thrown up by the
enemy to betray the Americans
should they leave their trenches sud-
denly to begin an infantry attack.
To this generas color scheme there
soon was added a reddish glow as
ammunition dumps exploded and
buildings set on fire behind the en-
emy lines began to blaze and an
ammunition giving off this color ex-
ploded about four o'clock.
Hun Star Shells Burst
The character of the artillery fire
changed slightly, lessened a little
in intensity and German star shells
burst with more frequency as five
o'clock approached as though the en-
emy suspected that was the hour set
for the infantry attack. More and
more ammunition dumps exploded
just before five. the artillery bom-
bardment suddenly resumed its or
iginal intensity and as the sky was
beginning to be tinged with dawn
it again took on a white look along
the horizon. Precisely at o'clock
the thunder of the guns ACCOMPANY
ing the glare of light stopped and
in the sudden silence the Americans
went over the top. All along the
lines could be heard the chattering
of German machine guns and then
suddenly the thunder commenced
again when a barrage was laid down
to protect the soldiers as they ap-
preached the German trenches.
Every Element Engaged
INTO lHe Odllle mas ptSH blOuShb
all the clements of the army. While
the artillery was playing its role
the airmen aand the tank crews
worked over the machines prepara-
tory to taking their part in the big
gest show" the Americans have
given. There was no question OF
aerial supremacy, or should not be.
French planes and French airmen
supplemented the American forces.
and daylight saw them already in
operation. 1t rained in the night,
and the early hours of the morning
did not afford the best opportunity
for the aviators. but despite the mist
the squadrons appeared with the
dawn, ready for observation of the
defense and for offensive combat.
There was high wind during the
day. but the balloons were able to
remain up for observation. One
American balloon broke away and
drifted eastward. One of the German
balloons was aloft near St. Mihiel,
but it remained up only about five
minutes.
Use Smoke Screen
The smoke screen the American
gunners placed about Montsec ap-
pears to have been successful in pre-
venting the enemy observation from
that commanding point.
While the heavy attacks were be-
ing made on the north and south
lines of the st. Mihiel sector a force
around the point of the angle was
inaugurating series of raids. rush
ing far into the sides of the German
body. The strength of the Germans
is not known but it is certain there
are at least seven divisions in the
salient. 1t has been learned that
the enemy had collected quantity of
stores in the sector and will doubt
less attempt to remove them.
Yanks Are Everywhere
The front under attack was about
As miles in length. The French were