Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-09-14
TROOPS SANG WHERE DO
WE co FROM HERE, B0Ys?'
Thrilling Scene When American
s Went Over the Top in ST.
Mihicl Drive.
BAKER SEES GREAT BATTLE
American Secretary Of War Witnesses
Thrilling Sight OF the Thunder o
Miles Of American Artillery Which
Opened Great Battle.
BAKER SEES GREAT BATTLE
IEv Associated Pres,

II OIpSucu GTCAt Battic.
y iEv Associated Press
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
LORRAINE, September 1.-THE allied
Offensive on the western front for the
FIRST time is dominatinSlT America n.
l!srN sense II is regarded as con-
tinuiHc phase OF the battle which began
early iass summer,
Secretary Ba ker. with several other
noiah'' Witnessed the beginning OF
The hs, le from the vantage poin, OF a
i'rtns ..ori close behind the middle or
thel.nc
II W.. precisely O'Clock of a rainy,
nooniess night when single dash
Of name shot across the sky: J.,
Graduatliy merged into sheet OF
white light on the horizon.
Grsdually there began 10 roll from
now and then the crack and boom OF
German return shells bursting.
The front over which the attack was
made was extended that the brill
liant bands OF vivid light soon stretched
from far eastward 10 westward. light
u arise star shells. signal rockets and
fares thrown up by he enemy TO be-
,re% The Americans, should they leave
Their trenches suddenly 10 began an
Infantry attacE To this general color
scheme there wa. soon added a reddish
glow. As ammunition dumps exploded
Ano buildings, set on fire behind the
enemy lines began 70 blaze. and an
AMMUNITION dump giving OF this color
exploded about o'clock.
ENEMY rREPAREs
FOR INFANTRY ONSET
r, nsrscter Of the artillery nre
IN s|Ehtiy, lessened little in
i%te lrd German star shells burst
W." frequency as o'clockS APP
re-. =; vas the hour Sc, for the
infn attack. More and more am
mu:. dumps exploded just before
s.. tbs artillery bomoardmen, sudden
ly. resumed its original intensity. and
as the sky was beginning TO be tinEed
with dawn i, again took on white
look along the horizon.
Precisely at o'clock the thunder OF
the guns accompanying the glare OF
light stopped. and in the sudden silence
the Americans went oyer the top: Al
along the lines could be heard the
cbstterinE of German machine guns,
And then suddenly the thunder com
'3id down to protect the soldiers as
they approached the German trenches.
Into the battle has been brought all
the elements OF modern warfare While
the artillery was playing its role the
,irmen and the tank crews worked
oyer their machines. preparatory TO
taking their part in the biggest SHOW"
:. the Americans have given.
There Was no question OF aerial SUI
nremacy, or should not be. French
planes and French airmcn supple
rrented the American forces. and day
light saw them already in operation.
It rained il the night. and the carly
j the best opportunity Tor tho aviators,
h"t- Notwithstanding the mis-, squad
rons appeared with the dawn; ready
= tpr the observation for the defense
and: IL necessary. combat;
There was high wind during tn.
DAY, but The balloons were able TO
Gar. balloon broke away and dritted
j., eastward One Of the German balloons
was aloft near ST. Mihiei but i, re-
. manned only about FIVE miaues
The smoke screen the American gun
ners placed about Montscc appears TO
have been successful in preventing the
enemy observation from that command
i've. l,oint.
+ While the heavy attacks were hene
. made OIL The north and south lines OF
81. Mh!el sector, force around the
point Of the angle was inauguratinE Il
: series Of raids, rushing Tar into The
sides of the German body. The
strength OF the Germans is not known.
but il is certain there are at least
seven divisions in tho salient 1t has
been learned that the enemy had col
lccted quantity of stores in the sec
t"r. and will doubtless attempt TO re-
move them
FRONT UNDER ATTACH
45 MILES IN LENGTH
The front under attack was about
forty-fve miles in length. The French
were in the line AT allotted points. hut
the distribution OF the forces was such
lHat tC acfe NieT the Germans turn Cd lhcS
faced American troops.
Just how much the Germans were
surprised by tho offensive in sector
so long inactive is uncertain. II seems
not mproba BILE. however. that they had
noticed the indications given for many
days pas, that some new plan was he
!nE adopted The mobilization Of the
DIE force was accomplished. however.
almost wholly in night marches. the
men Slipping from Other sectors into
positions IN front OF IN. enemy here.
o,tentincs without even he population
O: the Districts through which they
passed heinz aware OF the movement.
The guns that opened the artillery
preparations A. / o'clock continued for
rot along their nearby positions bu,
almost every cross roads village and
town Within rnnSs, The roads over
which the enemy might bring M re-
M with hiEn explosives.
The artillery attack vas carefully
MANNED every baue.y commander hav-
ing painstakinGly registered long in
Tine full effect III the terrific homha rd
ment could not he observed bat there
is little doubt that !, had an immense
effect H. interfering with me defensive
wo.n % the big German force in the
salien'
After rne American artillery had
ican soldiers 1er" over the ton behind
barraEe singing ,'udly Where dc
We 20 from here. noys~
The American attack va. developed
, BY succession or surprise attacks a,
Erea; number OF points. in which inc
enemy's lines w"ro penetrated
Those elements which reached The
second German line OF defense me-, with
little :esisi ance the Americans blow
up 3 number OF hlockhouse. machine
gun pts and rnuniiion depots
The s,o i;erm.n ArtillScry hr. at FRS
me enemy losses TeDOrtpd Z