The sun., 1918-07-04
Storm Troops Moved Down
by Machine Guns Be-
fore Trenches.
NEW ATTACK EXPECTED
Yankees Ready and Eager
to Meet Any More Regi-
ments Kaiser Can Send.
UNDER HEAVY SHELL FIRE
High Explosives and Gas Rain
Steadily on Battle Line
and Back Areas.
UNDER HEAVY SHELL FIRE
BY the Associated Press.


WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN FRANCE.
July 3.-A heavy German counter at
tack against the American positions
at Vaux, launched at ] o'clock this
morning, was repulsed, the enemy
losing very heavily. Not foot Of
the ground won by the Americans in
their attack on Monday night was
lost.
From the general conditions along
the battle line 1t appears that further
attacks by the Germans are likely
to develop. The Americans, however,
as they were for what has passed.,
and are just as confident as to- ~
outcome.
Moved Down in Masses.
The counter attack developed after
the Germans had heavily bombarded
Naux and Bois de Ia Roche. When
the German infantry lcaped from the
enemy trenches the troops came for
ward in close formation. In soma
cases whole companies were allowed
to approach close to the American
line, then the American machine gun
ners, from their hidden nests. let loose
perfect hail of bullets, moving down
the enemy ranks and piling the dead
all over the ground where the Ger
mans are trying to advance.
The -Aneriesrn artillery lent efficient
aid in completely breaking up the enemy
attack which was launched with fre5h
regiments of storm troops.
The number OF prisoners taken by tie
Americans In the operations near cha
teau Thierry was increased to-day with
out the American infantry operating cN-
cept as skrmlshers.
Shells Rake New Positions.
German shells have been raining on
| the new American positions and the
enemy fire has been answered by tho
American guns. The American line was
the target of projecties of all calibree,
gas shells being mixed with high explo-
sive missiles. The shells have been fall
ing heavily IN the areas behind the
battle line. The enemy fire, particularly
on the right flank of the new positions
at Vaux, was most intense for hours.
The enemy artillery this afternoon in
creased the intensity OF It's fire in I'll,
VauX region. The crash of exploding
shells swelled to a roar. while the
ground and air throhbed with the con-
cussions Of shells. But the American
guns answered the German challenge
shot for shot
trtH
The American gunners, stripped to the
waist, stood In the gun pits and on gun
emplacements. feeding shells as fast ss
! they could handle them into tine guns.
and n steady stream or steel explosives
swept through space on TO the enemy
lines.
At o'clock this afternoon the gum
fire showed no signs OF sabat!nE tho
enemy artillery work, II anything.
evidencing more ferocity than ever.
! The American aviators, keeping vigil
over tho flghtng zone found the ground
| obscured at places by the smoke OF
guns and shells.
Among the captured material thus
far counted are six heavy machine
guns, eighteen light machine guns
SlA lltHCn lilDTldTT, Two bECutut
! 'throwers, two hundred rifles, ono mo-
torcyclc machine gun and large guam
titles of ammunition and equipment
At last reports the American machine
gunners were holding their ground and
repulsing small but desperate efforts ot
the Germans to regain the ground
wrested from them. The Americans ara
reported to be well protected by their
temporary trenches and are not expos
| ing themselves needlessy TO the storm Of
| flying steel from the bursting German
shells.
The German loss IN killed Is unknown.
but prisoners say that their orders were
TO drive back the Americans at all costs
They have paid the highest cost possible,
but have failed to perform the task eu-
| trusted to them.