Evening star., 1918-07-19

to the smallest details. Maps Of the
region to be attacked, showing the
objectives desired. were printed and
distributed among the officers Of the
assaulting regiments.
On the night preceding the attack q
raging wind and rafnstorm favored
the allied project. The tanks which
were to accompany the infantry ac-
vanced close to the line Of departure,
the noise. of their cumbersome march
being entirely drowned by the roar Of
the storm. The first indication the
threatened was the sudden appari-
tion of poilus who appeared out Of
the mists which accompanied the
dawn. Many German omcerS sprang
from beds only to be captured. Com
panies Of soldiers armed only with
scythes on their way. to the fields 70
cut the ripentng grain surrendered
without a struggle.
With magnificent elan the French
advanced and were quickly in possess
sion OF the enemy's advanced zone.
Almost everywhere along, the 45-kilo-
meter (27-rnile) front they continued
their rapid % progress. on the left END
with as the region Is hilly and wood
ed and was strongly garrisoned by
machine gun crews and grenade
throwers.
Plunge in Water to Necks.I
The French onslaught was irresisti-
BILE, however, and q passage was cut
Through before the middle Of the fore
noon Further along the French
crossed the Sayuere brook WITH water
up to their necks and noundered
through a wide marsh under q heavy
German artillery barrage. They
charged the enemy works and by, s
o'clock had them in their possession:
Cresnes thicket, wide stretch OF
underbrush and strongly organised BY
the foe, offered resistance. Not de-
string to halt their progress. the
French passed around the thicket on
both sides. A battalion belonging to
the division supporting the attack
was brought up and given the Job ol
The ''doughboys" did their task
well, killing most Of the defenders
and fetching out only twenty-ntne
prisoners. W
Smash Stubborn Stand.
The Teutons holding Courchamps
offered a stubborn fight. Poilus be-
longing TO an "ace" regiment
charged. yelling. and carried the VII
lage, capturing numerous pfisoners
ana elSnIecu Cduiioii, 40 VISA - 50.
portant material. The Germans At
tempted two counter attacks and both
were quickly repelled. The Plateau
Du Sepulchxe was easily taken. Here
the tanks played q large role. wiping
out machine gun nests ana centers OF
resistance. Passy en- Valofs and
Marizy fell into French hands before
noon. The crests dominating Ourcq
were difficult to take. but they fell
after . few hours af defense.
cupied the plateau and Paris noun
tain dominating Soissons. The Ger
mans defended the position enerGeti-
cally. counter attacking vigorously
after abandoning Villers-Helon.
Cavalry, Fights Brilliantly.
French cayalryymsn @ nsntinsn @h,sn on on
has been the rule In this least pfctur-
esoue Of wars, fought brilliantly and
.stormed Berry. At o'clock In the
afternoon aviators reported street.
fiRhting az In progress between
French mounted cuirassters- and Ger,
mans on foot. -
Late IN the afternoon the ADVANCE
tween Eve and six kilometery {three
and a half milesA and in SONG. p1aces
even more Thousands Of prisoners
were already in the hands Of the
French, along with many cannon ana
much material. while more than
twenty towns and villages had been
occupied. It was by that time appsr.
victories won BY the allies. with .
corresponding loss Of confidence on
the part Of the Germans ard damage
to their morale. j..