The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1918-10-03
U. S. FORCE
[continued From Page One

Although last night was frosty and
the American soldiers were chilled,
tired and wet, they displayed keen
spirit all along the line. In every
trench they were as full of energy and
determination as on the first day of
the battle.
Engineer battalions have done good
work on the roads. Ccmmissary
trains are moving forward steadily
and rations are reaching the men in
the most advanced positions.
Anticipating sharp fall weather the
staff ordered sleeveless leather coats
Issued to the greater part of the men
at the front. These coats are lined
| with felt and are worn over the uni
forms. They keep out the wind and
turn the rain. They have proven to
be one of the most popular articles of
| wear with the men. The spirit Of the
| men in this battle is demonstrated by
that shown by those in the Argonne
forest. This is the last place In the
battle area to dry out and is always
| gloomy in the depth of the wood
Fighting has gone on there with the
| same stubborness which characterized
the first days effort. Machine gun
ners were left behind by the Germans
| to defend the main body and there
has been some great rough and tum
F.! BILE fighting in the forest.
Take Electric Plant.
Much booty has fallen into the
! hands Of the Americans, including ar
| electric power station at Varennes. II
is estimated that it must have cost
| $4,000 to equip this plant with water
power. The Germans left SO hurried
! ly that they did not damage the ma
| chinery and the Americans are using
! it. Americans are also utilizing miles
Of telephone wire and some centra
exchange material which had been left
in position by the retiring enemy
The latest summary of the materia
captured shows 120 guns OF all cali
bre; 750 trench mortars; 300 machine
guns; 100 anti-tank guns; thousands
OF shells and hundreds of thousand:
Of rounds of small arm ammunition.
East of Verdun and about DOua
mont there was a heavy shell fire
maintained by the enemy today Ii
a minor engagement in the Woevre
sector American forces captured thir
ty prisoners.
See Hard Fighting.
American regiments fighting in ths
Hindenburg line along this sector O
the front have seen some of the hard
est fighting of the war. 1t was fur
ious, desperate struggle into which
they plunged They fought day ant
night in groups and single-handed, il
and out of shell holes. They showed
gallantry, self sacrifice and devotion
m dutv unsurnasSod by any Othe
troops.
From the instant they leaped from
their trenches they ran into sniper
and hordes of machine guns. German
infantrymen, spurred on by their oi
ficers, stood up before them offerini
hand to hand combat.
Some of the stories of the men VIII
fought tell of the terrific nature Q
the struggle One Brooklyn regimen
took and re-took a position known a
, the Knoll three times. The battl
swung back and forth with the me-
so close to each other that rifle butt
!, were just as effective as anythin
, else.
On the first assault the America n
rushed forward and suddenly me
masses of machine guns, which wer
camouflaged and held their fire unit
the Americans were close upon then
) The Americans went right on an
were on top of the guns before the
!, began firing. The Germans did nc
: continue their murderous work lonl
A dash, leap, flash Of bayone
! and stab of flame from rifle an
, one nest after another was silence
and the Americans plunged on.