The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-07-31
AMERICANS Gain
7 MILES IN FACE
OF FIERCE FIRE
United States Troops Form Apex
on Line of Furious A.
lied Drive.
PASS THROUGH SHELL FIRE
Prisoners Report Guards Division Of
Prusslans Was Decimated In At
tack-MiIion Foes Counter
Drive Is Broken on 81 :
Mile Line.

Mile Line.
With the American Army on the
AisneMarne Front, July 31.-Through
a barrage as deadly as any the Ger
mans have laid down on any sector
for months, the American soldiers,
comprising men from the middle West
and Eastern states, pushed their line
forward little more and now it forms
the apex Of the long allied front.
Their progress was considerable
nearly two miles, but it is regarded as
q brilliant operation in view Of the
determined countering by the Ger
mans.
Fight Million Huns.
Paris, July 31.-On the Aisne-OurcQ
battlefield American and French troops
are engaged with nearly million Ger
mans In the fiercest close-Quarter fight
ing since Foch's counter-drive began.
the most savage combat in which
Americans have been engaged in this
war.
Along each side of the pocket the
Germans are making determined
stand. On their whole right flank they
have been launching terrific counter-at-
tacks.
AT few isolated points the line Of
battle shifted somewhat in favor Of
the Germans, but on the whole their
cOunter-thrusts have failed to dis
lodge the French and Americans.
Americans Hold Heights.
With the American Armies in
France. July 31.-Following bitter
fighting. American troops are holding
the heights beyond Seringes and Sergy
and have advanced their line slightly
at some points.
Prisoners taken during the fighting
stated the Fourth Guards division Of
the German army, which was finally
driven out Of Sergy by the Americans
after nine attacks and counter-attacks,
was decimated In that series Of bat
ties. Some battalions were wiped out.
The Americans advanced on the
heights over fields swept with shells
from German guns behind the defend.
Ing enemy troops.
Disregard Shell Bursts.
Disregarding the shell-bursts, the
Yankees made one Of the most master
full advances in American military an
nails.
On the Americans left the French
are moving forward. To the right
the lines are holding steadily.
The Prussian guards appeared to
have been withdrawn by the German
command.
The fighting is the heaviest the
Americans have experienced. Their
conduct is winning the praise Of the
French observers.
The crossing Of the OurcQ river was
effected by the Americans on Sunday
in brilliant style.
The FrancO-American forces had
planned to cross before daylight, but
the German heavy artillery held the
slopes leading to the river under fire,
which continued all night.
The Americans repeatedly started
to advance during the night, but as
often were held back by the fire Of
the enemy machine guns and heavier
pieces.
Cheer as They Advance.
During one of the lulls in the Ger
man firing Capt. Allen Hupp of Cor
ming, Ia, worked his men up to the
center of field, the slopes Of which
led to the OurcQ Just then the Ger
mans resumed their fire in full force.
Immediately Hupp and his men dug in
and held on where they were until
daylight.
Meanwhile the German artillery had
been quieted somewhat by the heavier
artillery Of the allies carrying out cOun-
ter-battery work. Choosing an Oppor-
tune moment, Hupp's men dashed to
the river, jumped In with a splash and
waded across. cheering as they went.
Corporal Chris Behthelsen of Sioux
City was among those of the first wave
10 cross the river. They Immediately
went after the machine guns on a hill
on the north bank of the Ourcu. The
FIRE they opened up on the enemy nest
at this point was SO intense the Ger
mans raised white flag
Expecting nice bag of prisoners,
the Americans rushed up, only to be
opened upon again by the enemy ma
chine guns as they approached. Then
the Americans let loose with the full
n Weight Of their fire against the Ger
mans, who again raised the white flag.
Twelve Germans were killed and nine
captured in this operation.
American Deeds Incredible.
London. July 3l.lAmQng the dis.