The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-10-09
YANK FORCES
OCCUPY CH.AlRNY
NEAR VERDUN
American Army Pushing North
ward in Desperate Fighting
400 Prisoners Captured.
ENEMY COUNTER ATTACK
Prisoners Fear What French
Will Do When They Get on
German Soil. . +
~ ASSOCIATED PRESS.

" With the e/American Forces North.
west of>Verdun, Oct. 9.-The Ameri-
can forces today drove forward on the
east side Of the Meuse and occupied
Charny. In company with the French
they have captured the villages of
Consenzye, Brante, Haumont' and
Beaumont. They drove the enemy
we'll beyond these towns and now are
pushing northward in desperate fight;
ing. cs l.
= In today's operations more than g.
900 prisoners were captured and T.
800 of them were taken by the Ameri-
cans. Eigheeen heavy, trench mortars
have been taken by the allies.
Captured 400 Prisoners. -.
Today, between St. Etienne and Of
feuil, American units captured 400
prisoners and four Austrian field guns.
There was fierce fighting in this sec
tor today the Germans using machine
guns and some light field artillery.
The Germans attempted a counter
attack in great force, but were driven
back with heavy losses This defeat
caused disorder among enemy forces,
which at last reports were precipitate-
ly withdrawing, firing villages and
farms in their path, and abandoning
to the allies much Of their equip
ment. 80.
,..&S =, Counter Attack: -:
German forces holding the line Of
the Suippe river have been counter
attacking with an energy which in
dicates that they have made a desper-
ate last stand there. The entire north
bank of the Suippe is lined with ma
chine guns, behind which are massed
several fresh divisions of infantry. A
strong force of artillery supports them
by a heavy and well sustained fire,
attacks, Entire divisions Of German
infantry are thrown against the small
forces Of French who succeed in gain.
ing a foothold on the enemy side OF.
the river. The French troops which
have crossed are still being heavily
attacked by the enemy, but they are
maintaining their position.
The blows which Marshal Foch has
delivered in rapid succession in the
Champagne have not only wrested
from the Germans important positions
which they had Held since 1914, at
terrific cost in men, munitions and
money, but they appear to have
thrown the gravest apprehensions into
the ranks of the enemy.
Trembled With Fear. .>
A German soldier who was captur-
ed in wrecked village in the path
of the enemy retreat, was trembling
with fear. White-faced. and afraid, he
sat in the ruins of Nrecked home.
the acrid smoke Of the German bombs
which had wreaked this destruction
still filling his nostrils. and with
wreaths of smoke from other burning
villages fired by his comrades visible
in the distance. ~, >a....-..
- what are you afraid of-we will
not harm you. the soldier was
asked. w.. -
''But what will the French soldiers
do when they get to Germany" was
his only reply. s. ~
: There was not word Of cOntrition
for the acts of which he and his COM
rades had been guilty in applying the
torch to homes whose hospitality they
had enjoyed fort four years. His only
thought was a fear that retributive
justice might overtake his home and
loved ones.
-Sry ". S. s- X ~