South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-10-06

and the Americans on the east de-
fined more clearly the salient in
which the enemy still has a consid-
cradle force opposing the Americans
who have been steadily clearing The
forest of machine gun nests.
Again the Germans concentrated
their greatest efforts on the center
in an effort 10 prevent the swinging
upward of THEN line 10 a point
which would enddnger yet further
that part OF the army left in the
Argonne woods. Although the ar
tillery action of the Germans today
was terrific-the volume was greater
than yesterday-there was a note
able reduction Of aerial efforts Only
occasionally did the German aviators
accept the challenge of the Ameri-
cans today and even a bombing ex-
petition to Landres-et-S Georges,
where more than two tons of bombs
were dropped, did not develop re
sistance.
Bomb Back Areas.
The contrast in the forenoon was
not surprising because of the low
visibility. but conditions in the after
noon were excellent and full advRn-
tage was taken OF them by the
French and Americans, who carried
out a hundred missions, ranging
from simple observation TO bombing
the back areas. The theory of the
aviators is that the Germans have
adopted policy of conserving their
planes. using them TO great extent
only on cloudy days, such as yester-
day. on cloudy days they can fly
by compass above the clouds, sweep
ing below them when occasion de-
mands. then disappearing above al
most Immediately and SO escaping
all but momentary observation.
American Planes Active.
The American planes were active
factors until late tonight Before the
fog actually had lifted, they were
over the German lines, machine
cunning the men in the trenches.
and harassing the transports, and
artillery. Time and again the roads
behind the lines were chOked by
hieTs, who with their machine guns
dropped the horses dragging guns
and transports. This choking of the
roads was accomplished without the
/ loss of a single plane. Of the few
/ enemy planes that did fly over the
American lines one was brought
| down by an anti-tank gun captured
k few hours before.
Tanks Used Effectively.
Tanks were used again by the
/ Americans but somewhat less ex-
! tensively than on the first day. u
was a day of artillery action more
than anything else. Each side sent
| hundreds of thousands of shells
! both high explosive. shrap nel and
/ gas, into the others territory. Re-
/ peatedly the Germans gathered in
! force 10 launch counter attacks, but
| always with negative results. The
/ Americans, most of whom have now
! had experience on battle fields, stoOC
\ like veterans, here and there chang
| ing their defense 10 Offense. anC
gathering in another tiny bit o.
ground between them and th'
Krienhilde positions.
The Americans threw a flood o.
artillery fire into the German lines
and moved infantry up with ma
chine guns. Through the woods
around them and up to the ores
of the high hill line they slowl!
edged their way for hours. WheI
the top of the hill and ridge wer,
attained: there stretched before
them the narrow valleys on who's,
{ further slopes are the defenses TIN
Germans have fought so hard to re
tain Miles deep in wire and
labyrinth of newly made trenches i
obviously was intended as the Ger
mans next stop.
Yanks Take Farm by Rush.
Much fighting for possession o
the hill centered about a farm OF
the southern slope. The American
had taken the southern part of tn
farm with a rush, and from Their
the operations that resulted in tn
occupation of the higher groun'
were directed. The Germans wer
forced 10 pay dearly for their re
sistance there as well as in tn
woods to the west and at Cthe
places along the line.
1t has been learned by America
headquarters that a large part 0
the casualties inflicted in the frs
, day Of the battle were due TO tanks
Wounded Germans treated % tn
] hospitals told Of their terrible eff
, fectiveness.