Evening star., 1918-07-01
REPLY HOTLY
TO GERMAN ARTILLERY
Foes Attacks Lessen, Though Spasmodic
Smelling Is Reported by Gen. Pershing.
Hun Propaganda Dropped on
His Front.

Except for ! ceased artillery activ-
Thierry region, Gen. Pershing's COM
munique today said there was moth
ing to report for yesterday from the
American fronts.
Descriptive information of activity
in the different sectors occupied by
the American forces was given IN
the second section of Gen. Pershings
communique. 1t follows:
Section A-Except for the increase
of artillery activity on both sides In
the Chateau Thierry region, there is
nothing to report.
Section BIN the Chateau Thierry
region June 27 to % there was no
special activity other than that OF
the hostile air forces and of the
artillery on both sides. The German
artillery fire was, in fact. lighter than
on the preceding day, especially on
the left half of our sector. Shrapnel
and gas were used in moderate guam
titles. A large part OF the hostile nre
was concentrated on our lines IN tne
general direction of Bouresches and
Triangle farm.
Germans Active in Air.
"The activity of the German air
forces was marked only by the fire.
ouency Of the reconnaissance flights
made. German machine guns were IN
termittently active at the points men
toned in yesterdays report. Behlna
the enemy's line activity was norma.
In patrolling activities, carried on in
the usual fashion by both sides. there
occurred an encounter between hos
tile patrol Of about twenty men and
one of our ambush patrols. After
hot skirmish near the La Roche
woods the hostile party, having sur
fered losses, withdrew to his own
lines.
"south of the Marne. bet ween the
evening of June 27 and the evening OF
June 28, 1t was noticeable that the
activity of the enemy had Increased.
while q certain nervousn >ss on MS
part was also observed. + artillery
WIS constantly active throughout the
breadth Of our sector and. as on the
preceding day, paid speciat attention
to our positions on the left. In the
las1 named region the use Of shrapnel
was again marked. Germa airpianes
were again busy along otr front, al
though somewhat less so than during
the days preceding. Ve,y energetic
efforts are being made ny the Ger
mans to prevent further crossings OF
the river on the part of cur troops.
Activity Lessons.
'In contrast to the activity which
has recently prevailed in the sector
occupied by our troops in Picardy, the
day extending from noon June 26 to
hostile artillery. instead Of scattering
its fire over the whole of our sector.
fired q greatly reduced number of
shells on few localities. notably the
Coullemelle wood. the Herelle wood,
the country surrounding Broyes and
high explosives and shrapnel were all
used. In some cases the enemy was
apparently attempting to adjust his
fire. The enemy's trench mortars were
In action for a short time during the
early afternoon. A few German air.
German patrol attacked one of our
outposts during the early morning.
but was driven off by rifle fire.
In the Mulhouse sector our troops
experienced. on June 27. very quiet
day. The only unusual event was the
falling within our lines of a number
of small propaganda balloons. dis
patched by the enemy. The German
artillery delivered scattering fire of
normal intensity; During the early
evening his machine guns delivered
occasional bursts against our lines.
Determined Raids Checked.
Tor our troops operating in the
vicinity of Colmar the days Of June
rs and 27 were marked chiefly by the
attempts of the enemy to raid our
lines. On the night Of June 25-26
large German patrol made a determin-
ed attack which was repulsed after
two hours of brisk fighting. The con-
dition of the ground, as it appeared
on the morning of June 26. gave
clear evidence that the Germans had
sustained casualties. fact which was
further borne out by the amount of
material left behind. This material
included eighteen bags of grenades,
each bag containing ten grenades;
rifles, were cutters. knives. gas
masks, caps and two lengths of steel
pipe charged with explosives. which
were obviously intended for blowing
.Anothsr feature Of the attack was
the use by the Germans of liquid
ire. This was . complete failure.