Show QUICK BLOW SENDS HUN i REELING fElING Impetuous Thrust Surprises Surprises Sur Sur- P rises Yanks Give Opponents No NoTime Noi T Tune Time e to Make Rally i i r By Associated Associated Press t I ViI ITH THE AMERICAN WITH W ARMY ON THE VERDUN 1 FRONT Sept 26 10 p p. p p. p m The m.-The The American troops took the Germans Germans Germans Germans' Ger Ger- mans mans mans' somewhat somewhat by by surprise by bythe bythe bythe the speed of ot their attack attack today and without giving the enemy time to recuperate re recuperate re- re cuper te they pushed him steadily ste steadily dUy northward This evening the Americans Americans Americans Ameri Ameri- cans between the Argonne and the Meusa Meus' had reached Malancourt Montfaucon Montfaucon Mont- Mont faucon Dannevoux and ot other er towns towns' towns towns' along ng that line mple of ot Intrepidity set by the Penns Pennsylvania a Kansas and arid Missouri troops troop was followed by the men In IntHe Intile tile tHe ot other er American units DESPERATE DEFENSE The opposition with Montfaucon and Dannevoux and other points Indicated that the German resistance was becoming becoming becoming be be- coming stronger and It was apparent the enemy had had time to place in position some of ot the artillery withdrawn withdrawn with with- drawn earlier In the day Late in the afternoon the German aerial activity increased ed indicating a determination to check what had developed so 50 rapidly rapidly rapidly rap rap- idly a sweeping g advance The work of ot the tanks which were mann manned d by French and Americans brought t praise from the staff start officers MUD IS HINDRANCE The machines however were unable to dis display lay their abilities to the fullest extent because of or the boggy condition of ot the tha terrain The ground had been softened Battened by rains and as aa the country naturally is swampy the terrain was found found to be too soft Mft in many places Many tanks became stalled but they were not damaged as the infantry had driven the enemy well northward SPECTACULAR AIR WORK I IA A most spectacular feature of t the e operation was the work of the aerial units The aerial observers were able to accomplish acc little until the a afternoon afternoon after after- ter- ter noon l j but before the echoes of ot the opening barr barrage ge had died died- away the pursuit t airplanes were over the German German German Ger Ger- man lines The Thel The clouds clouds made it appear Improbable improbable able ble t that at there would b be any great display display display dis dis- dis- dis play by the aviators and the fog seemed to hide hWe the enemy but flying lyIng at ata a height of ot less than than- loo yards the airmen irmen swept down on the German troops troop In the lino line and on on the roads Wagon trains were attacked and de debris debris debris de- de bris blocked locked the path of ot those who shortly afterward sought avenues of ot retreat As the skies cleared the observers appeared with their fighting escorts and aided materially in correcting the aim C of the artillery which had never ceased its vigorous harassing fire tire GAS GAS S JS S EFFECTIVE Gas Gas' shells were were used sed plentifully by bythe bythe the Americans in only a a few instances but when they were used the work was done effectively One of the places subjected to to toa a hea heavy gas attack was Vauquois That historic place was known to be bewell bewell bewell well fortified There was reason to be believe believe believe be- be lieve that the Germans might utilize the forty miles of subterranean passages passages passages' passages passages' pas pas- sages sages' in the neighborhood It was flooded with gas clouds and then enveloped by artillery fire Gas also was used against certain woods around which the Americans afterwards afterwards after after- wards warda marched instead of or going di directly di- di through them TRA TRAPS S FOR YANKS FAIL Int Information received only the day before the attack enable the officers o of the tank detachments to escape the traps constructed at several places and also the batteries of antitank guns By ByJ every division headquarters began to look like a aprison aprison prison on camp Groups of ot German prisoners prisoners' pris pris- prisoners from half dozen to appeared at the headquarters at intervals HAPPY IS THE WORD I After being lined up and questioned they ere sent to the detention campIn camp camps In the rear For the most part the captured men were cheerful some some ap apparently apparently apparently ap- ap were Joyful Many of the prisoners were taken In combat but the greater part of them had been forced to take cover under the smothering barra barrage e and had been left behind by their retreating compan compan- ions With them It was a case of ot upraised up- up praised p- p raised hands NOr NOT MANY OFFICERS Several officers were captured j butin but butin butin in this battle as ill previous engage engagements engagements engage ments the officers were well yen In the rear lear when the retirement began Every objective was gained Just forty minutes after the Americans started The French on the left also kept up a swinging stride Allied aviators continued busy throughout the day behind the German I lines attacking various targets Several Several Several Sev Sev- eral tons ton's of ot explosives explosive's were dropped on the town |