New-York tribune., 1918-10-01

man divisions returned to the line Sun
day either for the purpose of counter
attacking or supporting those already
! there. Observers have noted strong
bodies OF German infantry moving for
Wafd, and narrow gauge railroad in
ths region has been abnormally ac-
tive.
Activity, though general, was heavier
on the left than in the centre, and
along the latter position the artillery
fire ceased in the early morning hours.
The Germans on the extreme left of
the Argonne Forest yesterday evening
flltrated through the American lines in
some places with machine guns and at
tempted to attack Pershing's men from
behind. The advance of the Americans
consequently was delayed by the neces-
slty Of clearing out that portion Of the
forest.
Aerial activity continues despite the
rainy weather. American pursuit
groups making sorties from early morn
ing until dark accounted for twenty
German machines and seventeen bal
looms in the last three days.
The American pilots continue to fly
lew over the battlefield and harass the
troops and supply movements. Amer
suits yesterday at Grand-Pre and at
I Marcq, southeast of the former place
German cointer attacks against the
advancing americans were frequent
late yesterday. Enemy resistance was
particularly evident in the vicinity Of
Exermont and Cierges.
Just before midnight it was reported
that the Germans had shelled the Amer
lean field hospital at Bethnicourt and
had set it on fire.
Yanks Fight Onward
Over hills swept by artillery and
machine gun fire and through lowlands
and woods often filled with suffocating
gases, the Americans crawled steadily
forward yesterday between the Mouse
and the Argonnc forest.
The American operations up to date
are regarded as satisfactory and night
fall Sunday brought further evidence
of the German inability to check COM
pietely the forward movement.
The Germans have taken advantage
Of the slow American progress of the
last two days to get their artillery into
position and to strengthen the slowly
retreating rear guards. This resist
ance is taken to indicate that the
enemy is determined to reestablish his
line near where he now is instead of
falling back to the Kriemhilde posi-
tion.
The American problem in bringing
up artillery stores, other supplies and
supporting troops also has tended to
slow up the drive.
French Make Progress
West of the Aisne satisfactory prog
ress was made yesterday by the French
while slight advances were made also
at almost every other point of the line
from the Aisne to the Meuse. The
Germans attacked heavily at a score of
int hryf yS1n nCf 70
attack was against the hill north of
IVORY. There they concentrated a
heavy artillery fire and under the
cover of this and the support of ma
chine guns, dense masses of infantry
were thrown forward For a great part
Of the day the enemy endeavored to
break down the American defence at
this point and wave after wave of Ger
man troops were thrown back with
heavy loss.
The German guns shelled with high
explosives the road extending toward
Montfaucon This made it more diff
cult to bring up supplies, but it did
,ot stop the work.
Toward the eastern part Of the
American sector the Americans were
subjected to strong machine gun
fire, supplemented by an artillery
bonn mbardment from the north and from
across the Meuse.
On the western flank the Americans
worked their way steadily northward
along the Argonne Forest. The men
who had the job of clearing out this
region were faced by scores of ma
chine gun nests and snipers as we'll
as by shell fire.
Enemy Line Reached
While meeting heavy counter at
tacks and increased resistance by the
enemy, the Americans did not confine
their operations wholly to the defen-
sive American attacks reached the
enemy lines at various points and al
ways with success. although at times
the gains were slight.
Tanks again assisted in the fighting,
but their efficiency was lessened on ac-
count of the rain-softened ground.
Wherever there was footing, how
ever, the tanks advanced almost at will,
not because the enemy ran, but because
he was unable to stop the tanks. In
one small area near WOOD the Ger
man machine gunners stuck to their
pieces until they were annihilated.
They ceased firing only when the tanks
we're upon them, literally grinding
them and their guns into the mud.
At Montfaucon the German artillery
appeared to indulge in diversion Of
rather limited military purpose. 1t
was discovered finally that all the