The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1919-06-11

peaceful land, 1t could produce moth
ing like the effects which months and
years Of 1t bad brought about else
where.
In comparatively pleasant surround
ngs for front line, the 9th Division
lay still for few days while guns,
supplies and ammunition, which had
been unable 20 keep pace with the
rapid nine-mile advance, were brought
up and distributed.
On the night Of the 18th, the Goth Di-
vision came back into line taking over
the right half Of the sector and thus
giving to each division front OF about
1000 yards, which was quite enough
as neither had received replac ements
lately and their combined infantry
strength was only about $1,000. It
was obvious that the enemy intended
to make stubborn stand here, as he
had, as nearly as could be asccrtaned,
five complete divisions and elements
OF six others On this part Of the front.
Confirmation Of the presence Of some
Of these units was secured In day
light raid on the afternoon of Septem-
ber Ia, when 80 men Of the 9th Divi-
sion waded tho Selle through three feet
Of water, captured 80 Germans in the
dugouts along the railroad embank-
ment and brought them back across
the river.
At 5:25 O'Clock on the morning Of
the 18th, In drizzling rain and thick
mist, the attack was launched again
behind a barvage. The enemy put
down heavy counter barrage and ma
chine gun fire but, despite the resist
ance and the slippery footing on the
wet chalky soil, the troops waded
the river, climbed the opposite bank
and pushed doggcdly on into the mist.
The remaining IA tanks Of the 30lst
American Tank Battalion crossed the
river at a narrow uont north Of St
Souplet and tried to swing to the north
in front of The 9th Division.
Eventually. although the left of the
9th was held back because OF the diff
nculty experienced by the 25th British
Division In getting through the trian-
gle Of railroad tracks south Of lie
Catcau, the front pushed over the
ridge, captured Nolan on the right
and established line through Arbre
de Guise, two miles from the jumping"
of line, altl.Jugh both flanks were
drawn back for liaison with the ad-
Joining divisions. The whole advance
was made against heavy artillery fire,
and several strong German counter
attacks were rcpulSed during the
course Of it. for the enemy had appar-
emily been taken somewhat by surprise
by the resumption Of the attack and
was obliged to resist strongly to COW
cr the further withdrawal Of his heavy
artillery.
The 9th Division attacked on the
morning Of October IS in conjunction
with the Thirteenth Corps and en-
countered heavy machine gun fire from
farms on tho hillside. as we'll as re-
pcated counter-attacks supported by
artillery. Shortly before noon the Goth
Division, which had started later, had
an obstinate fight for Ribeauvillc,
which was only taken finally with the
assistance Of artillery barragc. About
the middle Of the afternoon the enc
my's resistance suddenly weakened
and the whole front pushed on to the
north ridge, which was within two
miles OF the Sambre Canal and the
town Of Chatillon, on its western
bank.
MaZingheim, in the hills between
Ribeauyille and Catillon, was occu-
pied by the 30th Division in the moon
light, assisted by flank attack by
troops OF the 9th Division from the
north. The 9th Division, on its part,
during the day had conquered Jonc
de Mer Farm and La Roux Farm,
crossed the Jonc de Mer brook and
ridge and pushed up nearly to the
ridge just west Of the st. Maurice Riv-
er. The next day, October 10, patrols
were pushed out toward the Sambre
Canal all along the front, those of the
9th Division attaining the west bank
OF the st. Maurice and those OF the 30th
getting to tho last ridge overlooking
Chatillon and the canal.