Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-06-07
J. S. MARINES PUNCTURE GERMAN lines
tachments on the left OF the advancing
line.
Advance Against Machine Guns.


line.
Advance Against Machine Guns.
After capturing small wood shaped
like the letter S the Americans yes
terday reached the cemetery at Veuilly
and continued to press forward slowly
under heavy fire from German ma
chine guns.
During the attack yesterday at dawn
the German artillery fire was feeble,
but the enemy front line was we'll
studded with machine guns
The Americans captured 270 prison.
ers in the action yesterday morning
and the French took more than 100.
Another 100 were taken later in the
day.
Take Strong Positions.
One of the toughest of all the objec-
tivos, Belleau wood some four miles
from Chateau Thierry, was swept by
the marines without serious trouble.
There seemed reason to expect Ger
man counter attacks in strength be-
fore long, because previous to the be-
ginning Of the afternoon attack, which
began at o'clock, the roads behind
the German lines were filled with
troops, guns and wagons, but the
American artillery turned on them and
created havoc.
The marines in their forward sweep
took strong ground on either side OF
Belleau wood and cleaned up the
ravine south of Torcy, which linked
up the line with Hill 142, which was
taken yesterday morning. This gave
them strong ,and dominating posi-
ton for a continuation Of their attack.
Prussian Morale Low.
A notable development was the low
morale of the prisoners. all Of whom
are Prussians. They expressed them
selves as tired Of war and glad to get
out of the fighting. This was despite
the fact, they say. that they are fur
nished with food even IL the Saxons.
the Wurtemberg troops and others
have to go without.
It must not be imagined. however,
that they did not put up fight this
them urging them on. but the marines
dashed into them, yelling like Indians
and plying bayonet and rifle.
One marine, taking back a prisoner.
ran into two German officers and ten
men. He tackled them, killed both the
officers and wounded seven Of the
men.
A sergeant was about to take
prisoner when the German threw him
self on the ground and discharged his
revolver at the American. The ser
geant shot him, as he did four others
who had surrendered but refused to
put up their hands.
Use Open Formation.
The marines advancing on the Bel
leau wood went forward In four waves
in open sssx,.:s = 7 he men thu
first wave were armed With rifles and
bombs, while men In the rear waves
were equipped with automatic guns.
They crossed the open space and
toiIed up the rising ground like
gnomes. The trenches Of the Germans
were clearly visible from below. They
hardly deserved the name. as they
were merely holes big enough to hold
a man each.
There was some wire interlaced be-
tween the trees. but the marines
pushed their way thru it.
Out in the open field artillery off,
GERS were directing the supporting fire,
while on the roof of a nearby farm
house q signalman wigwagged with
his red and white flags
Guns were stationed right out in, the
field. while others were hidden in the
WOODS.
Set Towns On Fire.
Looking down the valley. only mile
away, the village Of Bussaires could be
seen on fire. AS the correspondent
watched the scene the clouds of white
shrapnel smoke over the village Of
Torcy also became hrownish and
flames appeared Lii that town.
The artillery nre that preceded the
attack lasted an hour and was Of es-
special intensity for fve minutes pre-
ceding the time when the marines went
over the top.
Both French and American batteries
took part In the firing, putting down
rolling barrage. and then shifting to the
roads behind the German lines.
Defeated Three Divisions.
It appears that the mdrines by go
Ing in forestalled an attack the Ger
mans had planned. It was to have
been carried out by the Pfussians, who
had been put into the line for that
purpose, and was rtoshave taken. place
either today or tomorrow. These men
had relieved the Pruesian Guard di-
vision. which was badly chewed up
in the fighting Of the last day or two.
They in turn had relieved the Saxonss
just after the marines took over the
sector.
, So the marines are moro than proud
Of the fact that they have used up three
German divisions In less than a week
-and still are very much alive them
selves.
The morale Of the men II wonderful.
They are willing to attempt anything.
They are talking with pride Of the
heavy losses they inflicted lon the Ger
mans In the attack this morning, while
all reports indicate that the fighting Of
the afternoon has been even more cost
ly to the enemy.
This latter attack was undertaken
largely because OF the splendid show
ing OF the marines In the morning. to-
gether. with the discovery Of the uncer-
tain morale 81 the Germans.
The advance was carried by the same
men who attacked In the morning and
who had no rest They asked nothing,
however, but plenty Of ammunition.
They hardly ate the food brought up to
them. so absorbed were they in the
task of fighting.
- :! Nc 9 .she saA the marines IN &C.
ton today did not thoroughly agree
with the exclamation Of their com
mander, when he said:
IT Just wish had an army corps Of
'em here"