New-York tribune., 1918-09-19
Huns Prepare
To Evacuate
NearHaumont
Mines Placed at Various
Points, American Pa
trolls Learn
(By The Associated Prcss)

WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY ON
THE LORRAINE FRONT, Sept. 1s.-
American patrols, after a night near
the enemy's lines, reported that the
Germans were placing mines at various
points in the region of Haumont. This
seemingly indicates that the Germans
are preparing to evacuate
The Germans are strengthening their
dugouts and strong points along the
Hindenburg line opposite the Ameri-
can positions. Aviators report that the
enemy is building additional telegraph
lines to various parts of the Hindcn-
burg defences.
German infantry ATTEMPTED to at
tack the American lines west of the
Moselle Tuesday evening, but the en-
emy troops were driven back by the fire
of the American artillery
When observers reported that LIGHT
line of German infantrymen was ap-
preaching the American big guns threw
terrific barrage into that area.
There were no further movements by
the enemy.
No Living Germans Found
Observers reported this morning that
there were no living Germans in the
region where they were sighted last
night. Quite a number of dead how
ever, were seen.
American aviators report that on
Tuesday American gunners scored q
direct hit on big German gun in the
region of La Chaussee, destroying the
gun. Other hits near by DESTROYED a
number of gun emplacements, and one
shell struck the dugouts whore the
German gunners had taken cover.
German aviation machine gunners
and bombers attacked what thev sun
posed to be the American positions in
the region to the west of Wanderers
last night. The mist and low clouds.
however, prevented the Germans from
finding their targets. The Germans
themselves were located and driven
back by anti-aircraft fire.
runners Drop Near Ground
The flying machine gunners dropped
near the ground at several places in
their determination to find the Ameri-
can troops, but the weather conditions
were too much for them. The bombers
flew at higher attitudes, but they. too.
were hampered by the weather. and
possibly by misinformation as to the
American positions, and wasted num-
bcrs of bombs.
Owing to the effectiveness of the
American and French anti aircraft fro
q number of German machines were hit
the observers reported When last
seen the crippled planes were return
ing hastily to their own lines.
The large part which aviation has
played in the offensive operations is
indicated by the summary of the first
tour days of the battle. According to
this, despite the heavy rains, which
transformed the airdromes into seas
of mud and seriously handicapped them
tor at least two DAYS, the aviators were
not only able to make more than 1900
sorties, covering period of 1000
hours, but so thoroughly bombed the
enemy airdromes that the enemy was
unable to accomplish much.
The Allied pursuit groups played a
large part in maintaining an aerial
barrage over the sector of the advance,
and attacked enemy planes and bal
looms wherever found The work of
the observation corps was greatly
facilitated thereby. The pilots and OBJ
servers Of the Allied units fired more
than 10000 rounds from their machine
guns at conveys on the roads, artillery
and troop concentrations.