davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1918-08-30
American Troops
Gain at Razoches;
Lose Fisrneffe
Nbr The Associntcd Pressl

ffSScf'utfC
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY ON
THE VESLE, Aug. 28.-American and
German troops were engaged in spirit.
cd actions to-day in the regions of
Bazoches and Fismette. According to
the latest report the fighting continues
al both points. Tonight. as q result Of
the local actions. the Americans had
made some gains at Bazoches, while
the Germans had recaptured Fismette,
on The north bank of the Vesle, oppo-
site Fismes. The fighting has been
marked by much stubbornness.
Several days ago, when the Americans
advanced in the region of Bazoches, the
Germans retired into a wooded strong
hold known as Haute Maison, just
south Of the Soissons- Rheims road
Small detachments were left in the
cellars in Bazoches to harass the
Americans. Tuesday the Americans ap-
preached Bazoches from the west and
maintained their advance during the
night. To-day the Americans made
progress toward the town from the
east and south, a detachment taking
the eastern outskirts this morning.
Since then the Americans have made
further progress.
Fsmette had been held by the Ameri-
cans since August s, despite German
efforts to dislodge them at various
times in local attacks and by means of
artillery and machine gun lombard
ments. To gain this bridgehead the
Americans crossed the Vesle in fierce
fighting. For three days and nights
after the enemy had been driven from
the village the Americans were without
food or reinforcements because of the
constant enemy artillery and machine
gun fire.
The Germans maintained their posi-
ton on the hills commanding the viii
lage, and only during the night were
the Americans able to communicate
with the southern bank. The Ameri-
cans erected temporary bridges across
the river at night.
New-York tribune., 1918-08-30
Franco-AmeyicanS
Advance I 200 Yards
IN Juvigny Region,

LONDON, Aug. 20 (5 p. m.) J.
French troops are reported to nave
captured Juvigny, north of Soissons.
They are reported to have lost Cha
vigny, just south of Juvigny, to the
Germans.
PARIS, Aug. 29.-The Franco -Amer-
can attack against the Germans in the
region of Juvigny, north Of scissors, is
giving excellent results, according to
dispatches received from the battle
front this afternoon. The French and
American forces have advanced about
200 yards, and hold the approaches to
the railway.
Participation by the American troops
in General Mangin's operations in the
Juvlgny sector was a complete surprise
to the enemy, says "Liberte' The
units intended to be placed in the line
to reinforce the French were brought
upon the evening of the previous day
and passed the night in the thick for
est, from which they started at dawn.
Suddenly, at 7 O'Clock, they attacked
on two-kilometre front The Prus
sian 7th Infantry Regiment, which was
in front of them, suffered severe losses
and was forced to give way.
New-York tribune., 1918-08-30

that the line shoots off to the north
west the troops up near the Scarpe
reached its continuation, in the shape
Of the Drocourt-Q -Queant switch, earlier
than the other divisions.
In the north heavy fighting is in
progress on both sides of Bullecourt
and in front of that town. From south
of Bullecourt all the way to the Scarpe
the operations are aimed at straghten
ing the line and gaining ground. VIII
lers- Carbonnel and Barleux have been
taken.
German Counter Attacks Fail
Within the past twentv-four hours
the Germans have launched several
heavy counter attacks, fresh troops
being employed. In every case except
one the enemy was beaten back with
terrible losses, gaining no ground what
soever.
The one exception was counter at
tack south of Gavrele, north of the
Scarpe, where the Germans managed
to penetrate the British lines. But
thew did not remain there long, for
they were driven out. and British posts
were reestablished as before. The only
result was to CARPET the ground in
front of the British with German dead.
There has been extraordinarily heavy
fighting for Greenland Hill. This posi-
ton was reached once by the British,
but was relinquished during counter
attack yesterday 1t is now entirely
British once more The British capt
ured many prisoners. Every counter
attack delivered by the enemy also
gave additional prisoners.
Enemy Positions Outfankcd
Just north Of the Somme the Ger
mans are offering stiff resistance from
Ham, on the north bank of the river
west of Peronne. They have dug them
selves in here with many machine
Guns. but it is not probable that they
viii be able to hold out long, for the
push to the north will outf1ank the
position.
Except in the extreme north the
New-York tribune., 1918-08-30
Ludendorff, Far From Be-
ing Beaten, May Escape
With Bulk of Reserves
Italy Still a Factor
Renewal Of Attacks by Either
Side Will Affect Fighting
in the West
By Arthur S. Draper
Especial Cable to The Tribune)

Copyright 1918, by The Tribune Association
LONDON, Aug. 23.-The battle is at
its most critical stage and the next
week will decide whether the campaign
is to be closed by smashing Allied
victory or whether Germany will
escape this year with heavy reverse.
The essential thing is to remember
that the vital points are east of Arras
and in the region about Noyon; that
Foch, in supreme command, can use
Americans where he desires, but that
Ludendorff is far from beaten despite
the terrific blows that he has encoun-
tered.
That the Allies will recover all the
territory they lost in March seems not
too much to expect in the early future.
Whether they can get behind the Hin
denburg line and force a collapse Of
the whole German defensive system in
the West will be known shortly.
Italy may become decidedly lively
theatre again this year. There are two
ways of looking at the transfer of Aus
trian troops to the West. Ludendorf
may have replaced them with German
troops for offensive purposes or simply
to get stronger military grip on
Austria.
There is no question that Luden-
dorf's plans before July 18 called for
a push into Italy but now it is ques-
tion whether he can get men and ma
terial. Ludendorff cannot embark on
any campaign, however short, unless
he is absolutely sure of success Italv
is in good condition militarily. Her
reserves are strong, her supplies of
munitions large and the morale of her
troops high.
French, British and American air
men, sailors and soldiers are helping
Italy and there is a possibility of de-
velopments in this theatre of which
there are no apparent indications at
present.
New-York tribune., 1918-08-30

ton. There are many strong defer.
sive positions north and northeast of
Noyon. General Humbert's troonx
got foothold on one of them
Mount st. Simeon-yesterday after.
noon.i
But if the Germans should ston
very long to defend these positions
their line of retreat northeast n
Ham might easily be cut by the
French. Their line of retreat east
to Chauny is already under the FIRE
of General Mangin's guns. and
might also be cut by an advance Of
Mangin's army across the Disc
When Ham falls the whole German
line of defence in the Somme region
will collapse. And when this line
goes there can be no advantage to
Ludendorff in trying to maintain an
alt native front anywhere to the
west of the old Hindenburg line.
In the region east of Arras, where
the Hindenburg (Wotan) line has
been pierced, the Canadians ad.
vanced yesterday about a mile tow.
ard Bullecourt, the junction of the
German line before the Ratt|e NJ
Arras with the later line. The Ger.
mans have been counter attacking
heavily on both sides of the Scarpe
River. Here they have a new peril
to meet. For the Hindenburg line
will also become a reminiscence il
the British First Army can drive
few miles further northeast to Doua
and a few miles further southeast
toward Cambria.
New-York tribune., 1918-08-30
Germans Driuen Into a Pocket
By French Attack Near Aisne

ting the rear guard out of the salient
The Third French Army, continuing
its operations around Noyon, advanced
along the road leading to Guiscard to-
day and occupied Happlincourt and the
field of man9uvres opposite.
90 q. m.)-Noyon was occupied this
morning bv the troops of General
Humbert. General Mangins men
crossed the Disc River and took Nor
lncourt.
The French First Army (Debeney's)
took Quesnoy Wood, just to the west
of the Canal du Nord. The wood was
strongly fortified position and from
it the Germans endeavored to check
the French pursuit.
The rapidly succeeding military
events not only confirm that the Ger
mans have lost all control of their
operations in the regions of the
Somme, Avre and Disc rivers, but they
indicate that the enemy's own retreat
is getting out of hand.
Germans Save Some Gains
The effort to stem the French pur-
suit by fighting rearguard actions with
machine gun sections, leaving sec
tion at intervals of about 400 yards.
was only locally successful. On ground
especially favorable for that sort of
resistance. such as the terrain around
Roye, it gained some time for the
enemy, enabling him to move great
many guns and a considerable part
of his material behind the Canal du
Nord and north of Noyon.
But once this system OF fighting was
mastered the strength of the German
rearguard dwindled to almost nothing.
The Germans, hustled violently by the
French advance guard, were obliged to
risk an engagement with important
forces or to quicken their retreat.
The Germans adopted the latter al
tentative and since yesterday morning
they have been making all possible
haste on the road leading to St. Quen-
tin, La Fere and the Hindenburg line.
New-York tribune., 1918-08-30
The Official Statements

during the night, and are advancing
eastward
North of the Somme, as far as the
neighborhood of Fontaine-lez-Croi
stiles, the night passed quietly on
the battlefront
In the British sector astride the
Scarpe River the enemy delivered
strong counter attacks during the
night, east and southeast of Wis
enArtois, east of Boiry Notre Dame
and in the vicinity of Gavrelle.
These attacks were repulsed with
loss to the enemy after heavy fight
ing. During the night our advanced
posts west Of the village of Oppy
were withdrawn slightly as result
of repeated hostile attacks
The number of prisoners captured
since August 21 exceeds 26,O0O In
the same period over 100 guns have
been taken.
In the recent fighting north and
south of the Somme tanks have taken
an active part on all possible oc-
casions, and have rendered very
valuable and gallant service and CO.
operation to the infantry and other
arms
New-York tribune., 1918-08-30
Germans Mz1tiny:
Many Surrender

MYTH THE BRITISH ARMY IN
w FRANCE, Aug. 29.-The defeats
OF the last two days and the continu-
GUS hammering seem to have almost
led to open mutiny in some of the Cor
man formations.
The 214th German Division is esne-
clally mentioned in this connection
One officer of this unit said his mon
absolutely refused in body and he
personally shot ten for their refusa,s
He added that even that did no good
tor as the officer said "they were ah-
solutely helpless" lie therefore sur-
rendered himself to the British.
Numerous single Germans and small
groups are surrendering at every on
portunty.
Germans often are encountered walk.
ing toward the west on the road. Tho,7
carry packages containing few clean
clothes and two days rations and ASH
British patrols the way to the prison.
ers camp.
New-York tribune., 1918-08-30

fighting is through villages which have
changed hands many times since the
war began. The ruins in some cases
became ovcrgrown with grass and pop
pies more than once, only to be churned
up again. Villages reported from time
to time TO have been captured are not
villages at all. They are simply mounds
of brick, stone, mortar and wood
ground to pieces by tons of steel ex-
plosives.
Here and there a wall stands naked
in this war-created desert. Occasion
ally near them lies mass of old gray
clothes, filled with what remains of
the body of German soldier. The
ground is Uttered with all sorts of
implements of war, some of them new
and some shot to pieces, and also
empty cans, in which rations had been
issued. Everywhere there are shell
craters and criss-cross trenches. Long
strands of barbed wire arc to be seen
some of it with the rust of years on
it and some comparatively now.
Dust Shows Shell Bursts
In the distance now and then there
is cloud of dust and smoke arising
from a village showing where high
explosive she'll has just landed. There
is a DOuy OIL hndNi-Sidu eIoOPS o"'hS
ing up road, and one Of war battered
Germans passing it on the way to the
rear toward the prison cages.
This country is what the British
have been taking away from the Ger
mans, but not far away there is land
that the war has not touched since
1914. The British are within less than
four miles of this country at the near
est point
Evidence continues to be found
showing how hurriedly the Germans
left and the desperate condition they
considered themselves to be in. Wells
have been found with high charges of
explosives in them, with which it was
intended to destroy them. The Ger
mans in their haste, however, did not
have time to detonate the bombs.
New-York tribune., 1918-08-30
Peronne OufhQnked
By British Advance
South of Son7y,7e

LONDON, Aug. 20 g 100 p. M.)-
Following their capture of Bapaumc
the British to-day were reported to be
in Lesboeufs and Morval, according to
the latest news this evening from the
battlefront.
The town OF Peronne has been out
hanked by the British on the south.
South Of P6ronne British forces to-
day reached the eastern banks of the
somme River between Peronnc and
Happlincourt.
Field Marshal Haig's men are report
ed 20 have taken Ginchy and Guile
mont and 10 have reached the western
outskirts Of Maurepas.
Immediately south Of Bapaume the
British have reached the Bapaume-
New-York tribune., 1918-08-30
The Great War-1486th Day

Beaulencourt road. Advanced troops
are moving on Beaulencourt itself.
The British also have reached the
high ground northeast of Gueudecourt
and have nearly reached LIE Transloy.
10000 Germans Captured
The total Entente captures on the
Western front since July 18 now ap-
proach 10000 prisoners and 1000 guns
The British captured more than $4,000
prisoners between August 81 and Au-
gust q, while the British total losses
in the same period. including all killed,
wounded and missing, were only slight
ly in excess of that figure A consid-
erable proportion of the British casual
ties arc in the slightly wounded class.
The total captures by the British since
August 8 exceed $1,000 officers and men
and the captured guns number nearly
GOO.
New-York tribune., 1918-08-30
Germans Fight
Desperately to Halt
American Advance

WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
FRANCE. Aug. 29.-The enemy, though
he is showing renewed activity along
the Vesle River. where he is surprising
his previous efforts to test the STRENGTH
of the Americans, has indicated The
Importance of the Juvigny plateau by
bringing up some of his best troops
to check the progress Of the Franco
Americans, which slowly but surely is
being made from the deep hollows
which the French arc holding, as we'll
as from the curious circular mound to
the south of Crecy-au- Mont toward
the ridge line of the plateau along
which runs the Soissons~St. Quentin
road.
The Germans know that when the
FRANCO American forces reach that
they viii be able to obtain observation
which will permit the gunners to pick
out Their targets on the long hill line
that hes between the plateau and the
Vesle Valley, and that his gun posi-
tons on this Hill. facing artillery fire
rom the south. southeast and west,
Will have to be relinquished.
After this several interesting things
would be due to happen, but thew
would not be OF interest to the Ger.
mans.
New-York tribune., 1918-08-30
Americans ON VesIe
Deny German Claim
OF 25O Prisoners
by The Associated Prcss)

WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY ON
THE VEsLE FRONT, Aug. 30 (s ~. on
The Americans early in the day along
the Vesle front sent over large
number of projectiles and gas shells
against the Germans, who replied
fecbly
Patrols were active on both sides
during the night. The fighting line
remains unchanged.
American officers deny the German
assertion that $50 Americans were
made prisoners in recent fighting, say
ing only a few of their men are
missing.
New-York tribune., 1918-08-30
BRITISH

LONDON (NIGHD -Successfu at
tacks delivered since August by the
Fourth, Third and First British
armies have rendered the cnemy's
positions on the old Somme battle
field untenable.
m the whole front from Bapaume
southwark the enemy has been forced
to abandon, with great loss in prison
ers, guns and material, as we'll as
killed and wounded, the ground he
gained at such heavy cost in last
March and April. We have reached
the west bank of the Somme opposite
Brie and Peronne, and have taken
Hem.
North of Hem we are advancing on
the general line of Combles, Morval,
Beaulencourt and Fremicourt. Sharp
fighting occurred on this front to- day
and many casualties have been in
ficted on bodies of German infantry
who attempted to delay our progress.
This morning the New Zealanders
took possession Of Bapaume, driving
out the enemys rear guard.
In the sector north Of Bapaume the
enemy is still endeavoring to main
tain his positions. Our troops, after
hard fighting about Vraucourt, Ecoust
St Mein and Hendecourt-lez- Cagni-
court, made progress and have taken
many prisoners.
North of the Scarpe successful op-
erations to-day enabled our troops to
reestablsh themselves in the posi-
tions on Greenland Hill from which
they were forced back by the cnemv's
counter attack on Tuesday. We
gained further ground during the day
on both sides of the Lave River
north Of Bethune, and also east of
Nieppe Forest
LONDON DAY. South of the
Somme we maintained our pressure
New-York tribune., 1918-08-30
French Advance to
Ham Gates Despite
Bitter Resistance
(By The Associated Press)

wy 1 ftc <tSSCCMtCQ fTeSS)
PARIS, Aug. 20 $3.50 p. M.D-
French troops are at the gates of Ham
according to dispatches from the
front. The Germans lost three com.
plete munition trains at Breuil, five
miles west of Ham, in their precipi-
tate retreat.
Actual possession Of the village of
Ham will probably be delayed, as the
retreating Germans leave all ruins
saturated with poisonous gas.
At Champion Wood, Ercheu and
other points in the line south of Ncsle
where the enemy sought to bar the
French advance eastward, says LIB
erte," the German rear guards fought
to the last man and refused to be
captured
Some units of the armies of General
Debeney and General Humbert north
of the Disc River yesterday advanced
for more than twelve miles, according
to the "1ntransigeant." The newspaper
confirms the report that French troops
nave reached the region of Ham, and
adds that it does not seem possible
that the Germans will be able to hold
Gu'scard for any length of time
Gulscard is on the highroad midway
between Noyon and Ham.
The Allies now have won back more
than two-thirds of the ground lost since
the beginning of the German offensive
III March. 1t was wrung from them by
an overwhelming effort Of force and
they have regained it by the brilliant
generalship of their leaders and the
skllfui mannuvring of their troops.
New-York tribune., 1918-08-30
,Rv The Associated Press)

WITH THE FRENCH ARMY IN
FRANCE, Aug. 30 (Euening). The
operations of the last two days have
put the Germans into another pocket
between the Canal du Nord and the
River Aisne. They will have to evacu-
ate it promptly or run big risk OF
having their positions there turned
from the north by the French along
the valley of the Somme.
Since the fall of Noyon, which was
the apex of this salient until this
morning, Mont ST. Simeon, mile and
quarter to the east, is its advanced
defense. This height dominates the
valley of the Aisne eastward and the
valley of the River Meve and the Canal
du Nord on the north. These valleys
were lines in the salient last night.
The taking of Quesnoy Wood this
morning has frightened the pocket from
the western side. bringing the French
within shelling distance of the main
road leading out of it in the direction
of Ham, The road from Noyon to
Chauny, which skirts the salient on the
south, has been under the fire of Gen
eral Mangins artillery for several
days.
Germans Violently Shell French
Between the roads to Ham and
Chauny succession of heights extend
from Mont ST. Simeon to Chauny, form
ing a position of great strength. The
Germans are violently shelling the
French lines from there day, but the
imfninence of danger, threatening their
communications to the north, suggests
that they are merely using part of
their immense ammunition supplies
there to ease the pressure, which had
become so strong as to require them
to abandon ammunition all over the
field of the Avre.
The French troops having gained q
foothold in the Valley &C the Somme
northeast of Nesle, may naturally be
expected to advance eastward on Ham
which will render the stronghold Of
St. Simeon and the ridge leading east
ward useless to the enemy, while enor
mously increasing the difficulty of get
New-York tribune., 1918-08-30

and Suzoy. They frequently forced
him to make costly attacks and then
retire
Southwest of Noyon, after the
strongest artillery preparation, the
enemy attacked our old lines. We
no longer occupied them. Noyon was
subjected by the French to the heav-
lest fire. The town lies in front Of
our battlefront.
North of the Aisne the French re-
sumed their attacks in coopera ton
with the Americans. They were re
pulsed, with heavy losses. At Pasly
(south of Juvigny) cavalry and rifle
regiments beat back the enemy's five
fold assault. Several tanks were shot
to pieces