The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-07-29
DREW RESERVES
FROM FOUR ZONES
Details of German Efforts to
Stem Advance Show Mag.
nitude of Battle.
CAVALRY SCORES SUCCESS
The Boche Retreat Confirmed.
Hard Pressed Foe Reinforced
From Luneville Front.

With the American Army at the
Aisne. July 2S.-(6 p. m.)-German re-
inforcements were rushed to the
Aisne- -Marne front from the Lunevillo
sector, 1t was learned from prisoners
today. They arrived on the scene OF
action and were thrown into the fight
Just in time to take part in the re-
treat.
We were generally in contact with
the enemy throughout yesterday and
last night, though at daybreak some
Of the German contingents had fallen
back to positions north OF the Ourcd,
where their exact location could only
be ascertained by airplane reconnois-
ance.
During our swift advance today east
of Fere- -Tardenoise, we captured
German prisoners from the Fourth
and Fifth divisions. 1t was the pris-
oners from the latter division w..o said
they were in the line on the Luneville
front when suddenly ordered to the
Marine.
There was little confusion behind the
Franco American lines as they were
pushed forward on the heels OF the
retiring boches throughout Sunday
Munitions and supply wagons. as well
as troops. moved up in orderly FASH
| ion. The headquarters of regiments,
brigades and even larger units were
on the moye early.
At some points French cavalry was
employed for accommodating purposes
particularly on our left, but along the
line of our advance from Villeneuve-
sur -Fere to a point directly north OF
Courmont, we were generally in con-
tact with the enemy.
Av:ators Aid Infantry
Despite low hanging clouds, allied
flyers were very active throughout
the morning, accommodating in liaison
with the infantry.
A brilliant attack by the company oi
American farmer boys at Red Cross
farm, southwest Of Fresnes. and the
manner in which our artillery suddenly
dashed into action, turned what the
| Germans had planned as an orderly
retreat into nearly rout. on the Ourcq
| east of Fere- en- Tardenois.
The group of stone buildings. known
as Red Cross farm, bristled with ma :
chine guns, and was intended as one
of the enemy's strong Islands OF re-
sistance to hold our advance WnlIe
he leisureIy fell back across the river.
"A
TO parry the French blows on our left
in the same fashion.
But when the Americans suddenly
swarmed across the Fere zen -Tarde-
nois -Jaulgonne road early on sunday.
and surrounded the farm. they quickly
heat down the enemy defense ana
rounded up the survivors In the cen
trail court yard. Thus the first or the
boche's plans for gradual retirement
went astray. -,
AS the Red Cross farm fell, other
American units debouched from the
woods sweeping northward throuEh
the wooded ground to the right OF tne
highway. advancing rapidly on Whl.e
Cross farm, the next obstacle IN tneir
nath. The Germans had scarcely time
to organize resistance mere wnen ouI
troops closed in on them and drove
them out in a brisk encounter with
hand grenades. Then they went hust-
ling forward. At noon we were press
inr through the northern edge or fere
forest close on the heels or the re-
treating Huns who were now breaking
nm into groups, leaving some strhg-
glers behind.
Like Civil War Action
Emerging from the forest iate III
the afternoon, our advance recon-
noitering parties ran into a string Oh
machine gun emplacements aionS
brook tributaries to the CuIcq, sout"
of La Vclie village. The infantry tnere-
unon sought cover along the Fere-eh-
Tardenois road. ,.. ..u
Inst then the American light artil-
lerv came dashing down the road, the
horses at a dead gallop. IT was Just
like the artillery work OF the clvh
wor-the guns were swung up along
side the road and went into acVoh'
oneninr a direct fire on the boone ma
chine gun nests. The shells fairy
, aimed. the guns squirting fire as iast
as the artillerists could work them.
within less than half an hour the
entire string of machine gun empiace-
ments were so badly shattered that the
infantry went up through a VIII. WILL
field and took them with only s,hns
resistance, The nests were touno ~
be wrecked and at several plaoes ~.
ground was strewn with GERMAN I, uenu, ~
In the small village OF La ve',e d NV,
again attempted a rear guard
oot,or IN DELAY our advance They sct
IN machine guns amidst the ruins Oh
,,n,.os in the single village street.
Again the Americans brought up thc
A, ,rtii,erv and the Germans were routcu
out. moving down the muddy foad W
Inc village of Villers-sur-Fere. here
our advanced elements came IN CON
tact with the retreatinE bochc again
and some fighting developed IN INC
but the Germans continued
TO retire until they reached the Ourca
Mt a point just east OF Fere-eh-
Tardenois early in the evening.
Retirement Confused.
The Germans wadod into the mar
row stream in some confusion, aban-
doning part of their packs on the south |
bank.
The rapid advance throughout the !
day over muddy roads, through fields
and woods and amidst tangled under
brush had exhausted our men who |
hastily sought cover on the southern |
banl: for the night
At once the boche artillery and ma
,hine guns opened fire and played upon
us necessarily, also showcrlng gas
shells.
A number of our patrols waded tho
liver, which was only two feet deep at
otne places, but fell back to the south