The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-04
Big GUNS BALK
GERMAN LOOTING
Shells Tear Up Track and Pre-
vent Movement Of Trains
at Saponay.
By tie Associated Press.

WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN FRANCE,
Aug 3.--Before evacuating Sayonay
the Germans desperately endeavored to
remove several locomotives and railway
cars, which finally they were compelled
10 leave behind. The French and Amer
lean heavy guns previously had severed
the railway running north from Sa-
ponay and the Germans were unable to
make repairs owing to the continued
Smelling.
Saponay and the district extending
to Fere-en-Tardenois form an impor-
tart railway centre. OF which the Ger
mafls made much use until the alfd
guns cut the line. When the French
entered Saponay on Friday they found
two locomotives which the Germans had
attempted 20 destroy when they 6iscov-
cred that the railroad had been severed.
and the railroad yards had also been
damaged by German explosives.
Friday was the first day Fere-en-Tar-
denois was not under the German artil-
lery SINCE the Germans evacuated the
village. The French and Americans al
ready have started to restore the shell
swept village. A group OF American en-
gineers under Lieutenant from North
Carolina to-day worked side by side
with French engineers repairing the
roads and streets, and other detach-
ments were busy buryng the German
dead.
Germans Wrecked Every House.
Previous to eyacuating Fere -en-Tar-
denois tho Germans destroyed virtually
everything which could be made use of
mirrors, beds and furniture. There was
rot a single house which had not been
ehelled or dynamited. Most OF the stone
houses are mere shells with gaping holes
in the roofs and sides Some houses
were totally demolished and the
church stands with many large holes in
| the roof and sides. Virtually the only
! things in Fere-en-Tardenois that are
rearly intact are the weather cock on the
church steeple and the cobblestones Of
| the streets.
The trees in the village square were
| twisted as II by a cyclone by the fare
| well shells Of the Germans.
A large Sign in German at the en-
trance of the church reads: Remove
hats upon entering" Down the street
| German sign stretched across the road
| way reads Captured arms and loot
must be stored here" Tho sign bears n
hand pointing TO where house once
| stood. This building Is now a mass of
ruins, the result OF dynamite or some
! other explosive used by the retreating
| Germans.
From Fere-en-Tardenois a valley
/ stretches northwest to Saponay and be-
You'd and this valley on Friday was a
great battlefield. At one place near
| Saponay. at a crossroads, lay Ave sad
| died horses, apparently killed by the
! same shell. Beside two OF the horses
| lay dead Germans. Just as they fell from
their saddles.
The roadways are Uttered with am
| munition. wagons and dead horses, some
| of them with their drivers, az they fell
| when struck by the big shells of the
Franco American Allies. Many Of the
wheat fields are partly harvested. with
the wheat stacked. the Germans having
reaped what the French peasant had
! planted. Here and there dots can be
seen from the roadway. indicating where
some German dropped At one place n
German killed by shrapnel had fallen
headhrst into shell hole filed by a
downpour Of rain.
1t was into this valley OF death that
the French infantry came Friday morn
ing as the Germans withdrew through
the valley north of Saponay. The French
and Americas shells followed the Ger
mans as they went From the hill to the
west and northwest of Saponay the
French came from woods In a rainstorm
from clouds so low that the treetops
and clouds seemed to meet. and under
their barrage the French marched into
Saponay.
To the northeast the Americans were
! advancing virtually under the same con-
ditions, TO the woods east OF the forest
OF Nesles and to the valley running
! north OF Saponay. 1t was here that the
/ French and Americans met and side by
side continued their progress northward
! In Nilleneuve. occupied "Wednesday.
the French found twenty-three villagers
| who virtually had been German pris-
oners for almost two months. When the
Germans entered Vllleneuve the villagers
refused to depart. They all slept in the
same cellar rpr protection, and during
the day would not associate with the
t'ermsns, even refusing to eat German
food.