Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 58, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 October 1918 — U. S. MEN WADE WAIST DEEP TO TAKE GRANDPRE [ARTICLE]

U. S. MEN WADE WAIST DEEP TO TAKE GRANDPRE

Americans Prove Heros in Surprise Blow That Wins German Stronghold. BITTER FIGHT FOR TOWN .Capture of Hun Position is Accomplished Under Terrific Hardships in Face of Machine Gun Fire— Cross Mud Flats. London, Oct. 18.—Prince Maximilian of Baden, the German chancellor, will make a statement in the reichstag today accepting, In the name of the government and of the German army,' President Wilson's terms, the Dally Express learns from Its Amsterdam correspondent. The Information is credited to direct Berlin advices. The correspondent adds that Germany will surrender to General Foch’s armistice conditions. With the Anglo-American Forces South of Le Gateau, Oct. 18. —American forces south of Le Cateau, together with British troops on both side* of them, launched at attack soon after daylight against the badly disorganized, but desperately fighting Germans. After the shells from the British artillery had done their part, the Americans and British stormed forward to,the hank of the River Selle and managed to cross the stream against a hall of machine-gun bullets from the other bank. Some of the men plunged into the muddy stream, while others crossed on pontoons. The German machine gunners fought to the last and died firing their guns. Enemy Outwitted. With the American Forces Northwest of Verdun, Oct. 18.—The capture of Grandpre was accomplished under terrific hardships and with a heroism not hinted at In the brief official announcement ct the taking of this stronghold of the Germans north of the Argonne forest. The Americans took the town primarily by outwitting the enemy—by attacking without the artillery preparation which the Germans hud expected ; by wading the River Aire at four points, Instead of building bridges; by struggling through almost lmpa.vtable mud step by step until suddenly on top of the amazed Germans, and by driving them into a retreat after hand-to-hand fighting. Reach Aire at Four Points. The Americans had moved to a point within a short distance of Grandpre and the Germans had destroyed the bridges over the shallow Aire as they retreated. The enemy obviously expected an artillery fire to preface any further attack, for hij surprise was unfeigned when the Americans smashed Into li*h positions. The American attack began at six o’clock in the morning. The men moved forward In the shelter of the forest, reaching the Aire n-t four points agreed upon where the stream could be forded.

Without attracting the attention of the Germans, the Americans then waded into the cold water, which reached to their waists and even higher, and puslfed across the stream. Under Eire in Mud. On the northern bank they found broad mud flats Into which they sank half way to their knees. The Germans by this time had discovered their approach and opened a bitter machine gun fire, but the Americans pushed steadily on. Beyond the mud banks, which were crossed lowly and wjth the greatest difficulty, t“he Americans found the Germans and closed with them in a desperate bayonet hand-to-hand fight. Rifles often were used as clubs and each man struggled to down his individual oppgpent. At eleven o’clock the Americans had completely overcome the enemy, had driven him into the woods north of Grandpre and were in possession of the important rail head.