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Show isfnior AMERICANS GOOD i Transport of Supplies and Other Features Function Without Hitch. WITH THE AMERICAN' ARMY ON THE CHAMPAGNE FRONT, Sept. 26, Thursday. (Reuter's.) Last night's bombardment of the German lines preparatory pre-paratory to the attack begun this morning morn-ing was a magnificent spectacle. It was a cloudless night and thousands of guns all firing furibusly wreathed the hills in a ceaseless sparkle of flame-like mirages of fireflies. For sis hours the roar of the cannon, like the roll of a giant drum, was unbroken. un-broken. The enemy is reported to have been suspicious sus-picious of an attack somewhere in the Champagne sector or toward Briey and for the past ten days was watching this front closely. During the forty-eight hours preceding the attack he had increased in-creased his reserves in this region from four to twenty-three divisions. Prussian guards defending Vauquois, there being three divisions in the line and one in reserve, strongly resisted the advance of the American troops early today. to-day. By a general review of the fight after many hours it is evident that the enemy is stubbornly retiring to prepared lines to which all of his heavy artillery has been withdrawn. This was the reason that his artillery reaction was Inadequate during the early phases of the battle. The staff work of the American army wa3 excellent. Continuous touch was maintained between divisions and reports re-ports were received without delay. The transport of supplies is working without a hitch. The American attack began at 5 :30 o'clock this morning on a twenty-mile front between the Argonne and the Meuse. The artillery preparation commenced com-menced on the flanks at 11:30 o'clock Wednesday night and on the whole front at 2:30 o'clock this morning. It was of an extremely sevens character and was carried to considerable depth. The German artillery, which was not in position to bring a powerful cross fire on the front of attack was subjected to a gas bombardment during the entire time. The night was fine, but a dense mist formed toward morning, greatly increasing increas-ing the difficulties of the young troops unaccustomed to night work. Notwithstanding' this the American assault was successful everywhere. The enemy's front line was occupied in ad-v?-hce of schedule and the progress continues, con-tinues, although the enemy's resistance is stiffening- at certain places whre an at- 1 tack apparently was expected before- i hand. The Germans were forced to give up positions of great strength which for years had proved almost impregnable. Consequently a feeling of much satisfaction satis-faction is permissible, but it is too early to announce definitely the result finally to be attained. The counter-battery work of the Germans Ger-mans to restrain our advance, and his machine gun fire caused trouble. His air work wag very imperfect earlv In the day. but improver! later and was directed particularly against the American balloons. bal-loons. The American tanks did well when they assisted in the advance. |