The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-07-22
U. S. MEN FROM
AISNETO MARINE
PUSH FORWARD
Advance South of scissors
and Take Villages Near
Chateau Thierry.
THOUSANDS OF PRISONERS
Germans Happy When Cap
tured-One American Pri-
vate Bags a Colonel.
THOUSANDS OF PRISONERS
by HERBERT BAILEY.

Special Gable Despatch TO THE Sun from the
London Times.
Copyright, 1918: all rights reserved.
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
FRANCE, July 81. The American
troops still are advancing in the Aisne-
Marne salient. More progress was
made to-day near Scissors in the di-
rection OF the Chateau Thierry- -Sois-
sons road. while northwest of Chateau
Thierry several villages were taken,
the men fighting splendidly. Their
spirit is very high and they are fol-
lowing up their successes rapidly.
The Germans retreated across the
Marne yesterday by boats and bridges,
but left a number Of their men behind;
one Of them awoke after a nights
sleep to find that his company had
departed. There is a strange quiet
ness all along the Marne Valley. which
suggests that the enemy is retiring
and that his artillery Is well on its
way to the rear.
The number of prisoners is increasing
hourly; I saw many on the road yes
terday. At a town behind the scissors
front they were remarkable sight
Headed by at least thirty officers a pro-
cession four deep stretched fully a mile,
we'll built young men apparently in ex-
cellent condition. happy, with smiles on
their faces, confirming recent reports of
the low morale of the enemy, As they
passed the towns people cried ironically
Mach Paris" A smile and a shake OF
the head was the only reply.
or two Colonels captured. one. a Ba-
varian, fen to the Americans. So rapid
had been their advance that they trapped
him and the staff at a post in a quarry.
He was brought in by a private. who ex-
claimed; Look at me! I'm a fne big
guy, bringing in a Colonel
German Troops Confused.
Some of the German divisions to
which the prisoners belonged are in con-
siderable confusion. An American unit
near Scissors brought in fifty-six pris-
oners from not less than five different
divisions. So far captives from seven
divisions have been identified by this
unit alone. or the three German di-
visions which fought this unit one was
put out of action altogether by its losses,
the second was badly mauled and the
third Is now fighting with the remnants
OF other divisions: in such plight is the
enemy in this region.
TUn Annartran npitS in tba
area alone captured 1923 officers, 5,027
men. $50 machine guns. a number OF
field guns and other booty. This is the
reply of the American to the sneers OF
the German War Minister.
In the Marine region a prisoner who
speaks English was asked why, in his
opinion, the Americans had come into
the war 80 that Wall Street brokers
can fil their pockets with more gold"
was the reply, a statement that ! have
often heard from prisoners evidently it
Is spread by the German propaganda de-
partment.
British Help Americans.
The British medical services and am
balances are here assisting the Amer
leans.
There was fierce fighting all day Fri
day near Scissors and to the south. The
enemy made several counter attacks in
the Scissors region without achieving
any result. the Americans Offering very
Arm resistance. The Americans ad =
vanced northeast of Chaudun and east
of Vierzy. and near Torcy. further south,
they penetrated to the east Courcham mps.
The country In which they are fight
ing is difficult, consisting OF woods and
heights which favor defences with ma
chine guns, but the resolute fighting OF
our allies Is still progressing. hauling in
more prisoners. I was able to walk
over ground captured yesterday and 70
see the opening OF an American attack
on a machine gun nest.
Leaving the beautiful forest Of Villers-
Cotterets We arrived at town where
nothing had escaped the ravages OF shell
fire. Vending our way through the
wood where the trees lay broken and
old trenches filled with water told of
desperate struggles In the past, we
crossed to the American lines. On the
fields lay the bodies of Germans in all
kinds Of attitudes. while now and again
one caught sight of the melancholy sign
of a bayonet fxed in the earth. marking
the last resting place OF some heroic
American.
Further on two Germans lay dead In
a