Evening star., 1918-07-24

! hSaS- AA0 CiICAhy WAS IuuB IOLCSu lHIO
the open, where heavy punishment was
Inflicted.
A drizzling rain feIl over the battle
fields and made aerial operations almost
impossible in the morning, but it cleared
somewhat in the afternoon and the fly
ever. was limited.
Late in the day German planes en-
deavored to make observations over
the Marne, where the enemy was
aware that all the usual operations of
moving armies and supplies were in
progress. The anti-aircraft guns rem
dersd their mission highly doubtful
Boches Made to Fight.
Prisoners captured by the Americans
declare that they were forced into
action by their officers, who moved
behind the lines with pistols, threat
ening to shoot the first who faltered.
This information is not highly valued
by the American officers, who explain
that. though 1t may be true, the Ger
man organization methods Of disci-
pline are still in the ascendency.
Much more Significance is attached
10 reports Of advances. every one of
which reduces the chances of the Ger
mlns sending up sufficient supplies.
which are greatly needed
Capture German Tanks.
The American and French troops
fighting south Of Soissons have cap
tured' four German tanks. which
were operating against them in con-
junction with the German infantry.
The allied artillery Immediately spot
ted the tanks al they came into ac-
ton and quickly put four of them out
Of commission. Four others re-
treated
In one Of the four captured tanks
shrapnel had set or a gasoline reser-
voir and the German crew had been
smothered. The other three tanks soon
VIII be in action against their for
mer owners.
Foe Success short-Ltved.
LONDON. July 24.-There was fierce
fighting Tuesday between the Ameri-
cans and the Germans along >the
crests northeast Of Chateau Thierry,
says a dispatch from Reuters corre-
srondent on the French front. In the
morning the enemy retook Epiods and
the hamlet Of Trugny. q mile to the
south. The Americans counter at
tackled and re-entered Trugny and
continued to press back the Germans,
who still held Epiods when the dis
patch was filed.
In the region between Mont st. Poro
and Charteves the French and Ameri-
cans pushed forward two miles, cap
turing number Of fortified farms.
cupatfon of the Barbillon wood.
A number OF fires are visible from
behind the German lines. At some
places the enemy Is burning his
stores. while elsewhere they have
been set on fire by allied shells. A
great fire has been burning in the
Important haRa nj AN q vSa Sav, n1a
since Monday evening.
Attack With Rifle.
The correspondent Of the Daily
Mail at American headquarters in
France, under date Of Monday, tells
how an American Unit south Of Sois-
sons arrived along road congested
with transports and mud five minutes
before the time set for an assault
The unit, had no machine guns. but
attacked with rifles and compelled the
guns eventually arrived. but the men
were without food and water Later
this diAloulty was overcome by the
arrival OF canned tomatoes, the Juice
OF which Quenched the thirst OF the
men. -
to fight hard for their objectives, but
at the end OF tho, third day they had
obtained all they went out for. Much
territory, the correspondent adds, has
fallen to the Americans, IN addition
to 1900 prisoners. six batteries Of
three-inch guns, two Of eight-ineh
guns and four Of six-inch guns. dne
OF these batteries they captured at
the point Of the bayonet. 4
The correspondent relates that one
American soldier bringing In pf1aon-
era recognized IN one Of the captives
his brother, who had been impressed
iufn The Germau army In 81 a is