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Show SPEEDY ATTACK OF AMERICANS DRIVES GERMANS OFF FEET Pennsylvania, Kansas and Missouri Troops Set Example of Intrepidity Which Is Kept Up by Other Units Aviators Do Great Work. WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY ON THE VERDUN FRONT, Thursday. Sept. 26. 10 p. ni.. (By the the As-isocated As-isocated Press) The American troops took the Germans somewhat by surprise sur-prise by the speed of their attack today to-day and, without giving the enemy time to recuperate, they pushed him steadily northward. This evening the Americans, between the Argonne and the Meuse, had reached Malancourt. Montf.iucon, Cuisy, Dannevoux and other towns along that line. The example of intrepidity set by thej Pennsylvania, Kansas and Missouri Mis-souri troops was followed by the men in the other American units. v The opposition met with at Mont-faucon Mont-faucon and Dannevoux and other points indicated that the German resistance re-sistance was becoming stronger and it was apparent the enemy had had.. tl;ueto pla.ee in position some oC thc-artlllery thc-artlllery withdrawn earlier "In the day.! Late in the afternoon the German aer-! ial activity increased indicating a determination de-termination to check what had developed devel-oped presumably into a sweeping advance. ad-vance. The woric or the tanks which were manned by French and Americans, brought praise from the staff officers. The machines, however, were unable to display their abilties to the fullest extent because of the boggy condition of the terrain. The ground had been softened by rains and as the country naturally is swampy, the terrain was found to be too soft in many places. Many tanks became stalled but they were not damaged as the infantry hail driven the enemy northward. Air Pilots Spectacular Work A most spectacular feature of the operation was the work of the aerial units. The aerial observers were able to accomplish little until the afternoon, af-ternoon, but before the echoes of the opening barrage had died away the pursuit airplanes were over the German Ger-man lines. The clouds made It appear improbable improb-able thai there would be 'any great display by the aviator and the fog seemed to hide the enemy, but flying fly-ing at a height of le,ss than 700 yards the airmen swept down on the German Ger-man troops in the lino and on the roads. f Wagon trains were attacked and dead horses and" debris blocked the path of those who shortly afterward sought avenues of retreat. As the skies cleared the observers appeared with their fighting escorts and aided materially in correcting the aim of the artillery which Jiad never ceased its vigorous harassing fire. Gas shells vore used plentifully by the Americans in only a few instances but when they were used the work was done effectively. Heavy Gas Attack One of the places subjected to a heavy gas attack was Vauquois. That historic place was known to be well fortified. There was reason to believe be-lieve that the Germans might utilize the forty miles of subterranean pas-sagefc pas-sagefc In the neighborhood. It was .flooded w.Uh. ca clouds .and then -enveloped by artillery fire. Gas also was used against certain woods around which the Americans afterward marched, instead of going directly through them. Tanks Escaipe Traps Information obtained only the day before the attack enabled the officers of the tank detachments to escape the traps constructed at several places pla-ces and also the batteries of antitank anti-tank guns. By mid-afternoon every division headquarters began to look like a prison pri-son camp. Groups of German prisoners pris-oners from n half dozen to 100 appeared ap-peared at the headquarters at Intervals, Inter-vals, After being lined up and questioned, ques-tioned, they were sent on to the detention de-tention camps in tho rear. For the most part tho captured men were cheerful, some apparently were jov-ful jov-ful Many of the men were taken in combat com-bat but tho greater part of them had been forced to take over under the smothering barrago and had been left behind by their retreating- companions. compan-ions. With them It was a case of upraised up-raised hands. Several officers were captured but in this battle, as in previous pre-vious engagements, the officers were well in the rear when the retirement began. j Every objective was made according Continued on Page 4 Speedy Attacks of Americans Drives Germans Off Feet (Continued from Page 1) to schedule and in some cases ahead of time. The first objective was gained just forty minutes after the Americans started. The French on the left also kept up a swinging stride. Information reaching the intelligence intelli-gence officers today indicated Uiat the Germans bad expected the attack to be made elsewhere. Allied aviators continued t busy throughout the day behind the German lines attacking various targets. Several Sev-eral tons of explosives were dropped on the troops. Germans Withdraw Heavy Guns While Marshal Foch struck on a line that ha,s long been quiet, the Germans Ger-mans evidently were aware that the assault was Impending and had withdrawn with-drawn their heavier guns and most of the forces in the first lines to positions posi-tions further north. , The ground wrested from tho enemy ene-my during the first day takes the form of two outstretched wings of ai eagle, the body of the bird being the Ar-gone Ar-gone forest. This "eagle" seoms to be flying northward. Dannevoux, on the west bank of the Mouse, approximately five miles north of Dead Man's hiU, northwest of Verdun, Ver-dun, Is the deepest point of penetration penetra-tion officially identified. General Pershing's Per-shing's report, however, would appear to indicate that the Americans must nearly have reached Vilosnes, north of Dannevoux, and moved ahead along the Aire river on tho eastern edgo of the Argonno forest near Chauteau and Exermont. Important Railway Lines Ahead Ahead of the French and Americans Ameri-cans are a number of important railway rail-way lines which feed the German positions po-sitions along tho front. If the drive progresses it will cany a distinct throat to the whole German position north of tho Aisne, west of the present pres-ent battlefield and also tend to outflank out-flank the enemy's lines before Metz and Briey. That the enemy has prepared lines to which he is retiring is the belief of observers. Just where this lind Is located, is not known exactly. |