Norwich bulletin., 1918-07-31
DETAILS, OF FIGHTING
 ON THE AMERICAN FRONT
Americans Advanced Under Fire as
 Though on Drill.


 With the American Army on the Aisne- Marne Front, July 30.-(By The Associated Press. )-Through barrage as deadly as any the Germans have laid down on any sector for months, the American soldiers, comprising men from the middle west and eastern states, pushed their line forward lit tie more today, and tonight it forms the apex of the long allied front
 Their progress was considerable. though less than two miles but 1t is regarded as a brilliant operation in view of the determined countering by the Germans.
 On either side the French also nov ed forward, while steady pressure was maentained against the east and west franks.
 Info 1aation early in the day indi cated the withdrawal of the Fourth Guards, but it developed that that re- l nowned organizat ton and the Bavari- l ans we1e still on the front, and the strong opposition they offersd justi- fled their reputation. But their sacri fee was in vain.
 Withsteod Two Heavy Attacks. The Americans .withstood two. heavy 1 attacks during the night. and at day | light te gan their operations, which left them tonight well to the north of Ser | gy on the long slopes approaching the heavy woods beyond Nesles, little town directly east of Serignes at Nes- | les. whose retention the sGerrans bit terly opposed.
 The east end of the line swings
 northeasterly opposite this point and l then drops off sharply in the direction of Cierges and Roncheres. The Ourcq 1 river has been left far behind. the line l being pushed forward across the zone | to the northwest.
 l Germans Hold Nesies Forest.
 The Germans are holding positions in Nesles Forest fom which their guns are shelling ineffectively.
 | It was late in the day ESfore the whole of Seringes was wholly cleared | The Germans chung to the northern part of the town tenaciously and used
 their machine guns murderously.
 Neither side used artillery in this
 particular battle. There was hand -tc hand fighting in the streets in whicl the Americans proved the masters
 driving the enemy before them.
 Americans Advanced as Though or
 Drill.
 The story of the fight for the DOS
 session of Meurcy Farm, lying direct1.
 south of Seringes, will long be remem
 bered j1 the history of the division
 The Germans, on their withdraw wal, lief
 behind a strong force of machine gun moved forward through the yelloT
 wheat fields, which were sprayed an'
 torn by bullets. But they adv anced a |, though on a drill ground
 The American guns laid down , heavy artillery fire. but. notwithstand
 ing this, many of the Germans remain , ed when it came to hand to han } fighting. In group of farm build ings the enemy had set up strong de s fence. Here the Germans stuck {
 their guns. and the Americans rush r ed them and killed the gunners at thei l post.
 e A Battle Without Mercy. 0 It was a little battle without mere! T and typical of similar enga cement 0 occurring along the whole line. Tn 2 Prussian guards and Bavarians every ,, where fought in accordance with thei = training, discipline and traditions, br 3 were outWitted and outfousht e To the north of the farm, up tn e long slopes lea ding to the woods tn : Americans encountered the fiercest ex y hibition of Germany's war scienc a The Germans laid down a barras q which, it is said. was as heavy as ha d ever been employed. The America y guns replied heavily.
 d The order for the advance came an Q the line moved forward across tf n grain fields directly through the bal
 rage. On a nearby hillside the chi, d staff officers watched the operatio ''' They saw shells fall, in some cas, n leaving long gaps in the line. but tf e troops never halted .. S. On through the barrage the Amer is cans went into the German position It attacking fiercely, the machine gun ar d infantry detachments. The barras
 died away, the Germans leaving u n work of resistance tos the. men the a had failed to protect with their hea1 j. guns.
 |; Lone American Attacked IS German ~ The Germans were ''mopped up" al m the Americans held their new line ju
 east of the forest. Not many prisone .o were taken. but here and there a fe were rounded up and brought i Sergeant Louis Loetz of Sioux Ci contributed fourteen. He attack, z eighteen Germans who had becon m separated from their command, killir ,e four of them and capturing the other Id Awful Execution by Americans. of Awful execution was done by u of Americans. Eight captured guar er said they were all that remained of l. company of eighty-six. Yesterd; > their number had been reduced l. thirty and a lieutenant. Today i al lieutenant and all but they we