Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-08-01
SERINGES FALLS
TO YANKEES IN
CUNNING BATTLE
Final Capture by Americans
Especially Creditablc
Achievement
HUN GUNS KEPT UP FIRE
Z. S. Fighters Prove Better
Shots Than Prussian Guard,
Pledged to End

Lonuol, aug. l.-IueSday was a
day of sheer hard in-and-out fight
Ing on the American front, tele-
graphs Reuters correspondent on
/ the front north of the Marine He
says that the final capture of Serin-
ges by the Americans was an espe-
cially creaitable achievement.
Since the Americans took the viii
lage on Monday, the Germans made
no infantry attack on the place, but
kept up constant artillery and ma
chine gun fire to drive them out.
| This continued all day on Tuesday
and towards evening the enemy
seemed TO think that the spirit of
the defenders might possibly be
broken ana then they began TO
emerge from the Nesles forest in a
way that seemed to forecast fresh
attempt to take the village. OF the
fighting which followed the cores
pondent writes:
Yankees Learn Subuety
The Americans after three days
of to-and-fro lighting through viii
lagos had learned subtlety and were
! determined to have a real fight to 4
| finish. They consistently withdrew
| as If retiring from Seringes and the
/ Germans crept down from the high
( ground convinced they had their op-
ponents beaten. Additional German
troops came pouring in until the
/ town was occupied as it never had
| been before.
But as the new occupants began
to organize their defenses they found
that bullets appeared to be comins
in from three sides OF the village and
it was not long before they discov-
cred that the Americans, while with
drawing from the front of the town
had commenced an encircling move
ment on both sides, thus forming q
ring almost completely around it.
Then came tragic fighting. The
Prussian Guard had voted not to
surrender and their opponents were
just as anxious to see the thing
through. 1t was an affair of small
arms. but the Americans proved to
be better shots and slowly picked on
men here and there.
Prussians Rcdoublc Fire
Then the Americans began TO ad-
vance and slowly their encirclins
ring closed about the village, the de-
tenders saw their doom approach.
ing, they redoubled their fire but
still the Americans came on un-
falteringly.
When the Americans reached the
precincts of the village their fire
ceased and with one wild yell they
closed with the foe. The fierce
uproar suddenly gave place &c
strange silence as mRn grappled
with man. Only the clash of stee
on steel and the groans of stricken
could be heard.
The issue never was in doubt
At this kind of fighting the American
is more than equal to any Prussiar
Euardsman, and in a little more
than ten minutes all was over. Ex-
cept for a few German prisoners
every German in the village was
killed.
Fails at Sergy, Tries Meurcy
During the night the enemy twice
attempted to retake Sergy, but each
time he was repulsed with heavy
losses. Then he made a fierce as.
sault on Meurcy farm, east of Serin-
ges. which was piled with dead
which he had left there the day be-
fore, when every man defending il
died at his post. There again the
enemy was unsuccessful. Heaps oi
German slain were doubled.
subsequently the fighting extend.
,, ed still further eastward and in every
case the Germans who attacked
were annihilated. Later came the at
tack on Seringes and an attempt al
) the same time TO drive the allies
: from Hill 1877, west of Serlnges
There for the first time since the
; allies crossed the Ourcq the Ger.
, mans may be said to have definitely
! taken the offensive.
: "All through the days fighting the
enemy's airplanes attempted in the
, most daring manner to assist in the
} battle. Early in the morning six en-
! emy planes succeeded in penetrating
as far as the La Croix Blanche farm
near La Fere forest, firing upon al
lied troops.
Members of the Prussian Guard
who were taken prisoner state that
their orders were to hold the line al
all costs. All three of their battal-
ions apparently were in the line on
this memorable day, which ended
everywhere in victory for the allies
although there was no great gain oi
ground.
During the following night
ground near Cierges was captured by
the Americans. This advance will
make it possible for the troops in this
sector to join hands with the con-
querors of Sergy and Seringes."