The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-06-27
BY TIE ASsoc,o.ed Press

By N- ASsoc.o'ed Press
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN t'RA%CE,
June 2S.-In an attack upon the German
lines on the Marne front last night TIE
American troops extended their limo
northwest OF Belleau Wood. Tho Amer
cans captured csa prisoners, including
seven officers. large number Of ma
chine guns and other booty. The An,or,-
cans made an irresistible rush for ths
complete clearing Of the wood, in which
Il WAS discovered yesterday the Ger
mans were st!ll occupying = small ,trip
OF the underbrush. The attack was pre-
ceded BY a thirteen hour bomhard!rcnt
by tho American artillery.
The Importance Of the American ad-
! vance IL not indicated by the amount
Of territory captured In the wood. AN
that only amounts to approximately 500
sluare yards. The new positions Of tns
Americans give them possession of vlr.
tually all of Belcsu Wood and from
these they dominate tn" ridge beyond
10 that they hold the upper hand Tho
Germans were virtually cleared out o
Belleau Wood several days ago. but the
discovery was made yesterday that un-
der cover OF darkness ;hoy had planted
machine gun. behind huge houlders. in
sunken roadways, IN shnll holes and in
trees in a harrow area on tho edge o.
the wood. II was most d'fflcul' to get
at them In these positions, ard wor-
fierce hand to hand lighting occurred
during tho nich, whilc tho clearing p,c..
esq was being carried out
Enemy Praises I. ). Nalor.
German prisoners -pkcn pay tribute
to the brilliant dash Of th' Americans.
declaring the men In the assautinl,
party fought like demons. Most OF til,
prisoners taken belong 10 the 347th Ge:-
man division.
on sunday tho Germans placed .iIs
crack oolst Division opposite a portion
Of the American line. Despite this thu
Americans went through in steam rolle-
fashion.
The Germans also had Attempted On
Saturday TO Ill the wood with gas, but
the determination and herosm OF tine
Americans could not bc checked by this
circumstance.
The American artilsSN again bril-
liantly carried out its par, IN throwing
tho entire German line into confusion
Prisoners said the position from which
they had been taken was like al intern"
| under the American FIRE. They wers
happy TO get out alive
Wns n Surprise Attack.
A German officer. arrogan, and .ar-
castle remarked I'VE are Just starting
with the Americans. We are going {,
.
companies"
The German priva'es were less AFRO
CANT and apparently were glad they
were captured. One said the Germans
were surprised AZ the Americans. who
arpea rcd 80 Young, but fought like devils
| when they got started Another said:
THE war will soon b. ended There
, are too many Americans coming 20 Ell
rope
This prisoner was rrussiar WHO
| fought on the Russian front. He con
fessed that the Germans were preparing
to attack III. Americans IN Bslleau
| Wood when the American troops star,e.
their attack.
! 1t was surprise affair The Amer
cans came one way and the German Of
ncers tried to forcn their men forward
! the other way. This prisoner was shof
/ in the leg by his own officer because he
, hcsitated confusedly between the Anne
| lean guns and bavonets and the pistols
, in the hands of the German ofIiCcrs
/ charged With "a Yell.
| RAYMOND : Howell of BarnesNii!e
! Ohio who was ~ the first Inc ~ the
advance, dsscr bug the operation. said
! we took up \ position in tl.- open
| wood there were no trenches. The Ger
mans opened a heavy fire and ahcils fe!'
around ny like rain. We charged over
| the rocky hill, our fellows laughing anu
yelling a war whoop We then cana