Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-06-05
Yankees Poured Terrible Fire
Into Ranks of Enemy, De-
tailed Reports of Fighting
Along the Mdrne ShoW
By Associated Press


With the American Army in
France, Tuesday. June 4.-The
American troops thrown into the
present great battle on the front
northwest of Chateau Thierry, in IL
brilliant bayonet attack drove the
Germans from Veuilly wood, in
which the enemy was attempting 20
establish himself after occupying the
village of Veuilly- -Poterie, in Sc
we're fighting.
The Germans poured heavy ma
chine gun fire into the American
ranks. but the Americans rushed for
Wa / and destroyed the hastily erec.-
ed machine gun positions on the
edge CT the woods. Continuing their
advance they engaged the Germans
at close quarters and cleared them
entirely from their positions, driving
trem back upon the ruined village.
IN a sharp combat. marked by the
nerceness of the allied machine gun
fire, French and American troops,
fighting side by side, almost wiped
out small German forces which had
reached the left bank of the Marne
near Jaulgonne, east of Chateau
Thferry.
Survivors Captured
Most of the enemy survivors were
rounded up in small groups and
made prisoners.
On Monday in the attack against
the Germans at Neuilly the Ameri-
cans drove them back one and a
half kilometers on the front of
narrow salient. The ground was
cleared of the enemy and the Amer
leans are now holding their posi-
tion there. The American losses, ac-
cording to the latest reports avail
able, were exceedingly light most of
them resulting from shell fire.
Gunners Work SkilfulIy
The first Americans to enter the
battle zone were troops of a ma
chine gun battalion. They rode on
and arrived at their new position on
Saturday morning. These were the
troops which repulsed the enemy
which attempted to cross the Marine
river.
The machine gunners were sta
toned within a certain town and be-
gan operations by poking the muz-
zles of their weapons through
broken walls, bushes and holes
knocked in the side of houses. The
guns were skilfully hidden and the
Germans were unable to locate
them. The Germans shelled the town
heavily and the Americans took po-
sitions accordingly. Later on the
enemy entered the outskirts only to
be pounded by the allied artillery.
Yankee VaIor Praised
London, June 5.-The part played
by the American machine gunners
in the defense of the Chateau Thi-
erry bridges is classed by Reuters
correspondent at. French headuar-
ters as worthy to stand with the
achievements of the American in
fantry recently at Cantigny. on the
Amiens front Telegraphing under
date of Monday, the correspondent
writes:
"On Friday, when the Germans
were already in the outskirts of Chat
eau Thierry, an American machine
gun unit was hurried thither in mo-
torlorries. Chateau Thierry lies on
both banks of the Marne, which is
spanned by a big bridge.
u. S. Workmanship Praised
1.-The Americans had scarcely
reached their uarters when news waI
received that the Germans had
broken into the northern part of
Chateau Thierry, having made their
way through the gap they had driven
in our lines to the left of the town
and then pouring along the streets
to the bridge, intending. to establish
themselves firmly on the south bank
and capture the town.
"The American machine gunners
and French colonials were thrown
into Chateau Thierry together. The
Americans Immediately took over
the defense of the river bank. espe-
cially the approaches to the bridge.
Fighting with their habitual cour-
age and using their guns with an ac-
curacy which won the highest en-
coniums from the French, they
brought the enemy to a standstill.
Waiver Under Yankee Fire
Already wavering under the
American fire, the Germans were
counterattacked by the French
Colonials and driven from the town.
They returned to the attack the next
night and under cover of darkness
crept into the town along the river
bank and began to work their way
through the streets toward the main
bridge. At the same moment a tre-
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