The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-06-05
Used Bayonets to Drive
Germans From Their
Positions Monday
YANKS ACTIVELY
AIDING FRENCH
Machine Gunners Annihi-
late Germans Who
Cross the Marine
fBv Associated Press.l

France, Tuesday, June 4.-The Am
erican troops thrown into the present
great battle on the front northwest
of Chateau Thierry. in a brilliant
bayonet attack drove the Germans
from Veuilly wood, in which the
enemy was attempting to establish
himself after occupying the village Of
Veuilly- la -Poterie in severe fighting.
The Germans poured a heavy ma
chine gun fire into the American
ranks. but the Americans rushed for
ward and destroyed the German gun
positions, on the edge of the woods.
Continuing their advance, they en-
gagged the Germans at close quarters
and cleared them entirely from their
positions, driving them back upon
the ruined village.
Ina sharp combat, marked by the
ferceness Of the allied machine gun
fire, French and American troops,
fighting side by side. almost wiped
out some Of the German forces which
had reached the left bank Of the
Marine near Jaulgonne. east OF Chat
eau Thierry. Most of the enemy sur
vivors were rounded up in small
groups and made prisoners.
On Monday in the attack against
the Germans at Veuilly, the Amer1-
cans drove them back one and a half
5-a0
salient, The ground was cleared Of
the enemy and the Americans now
are holding their. position there. The
American losses. according to the
latest reports available. were exceed
ingly slight, most of them resulting
from shell fire.
The first Americans to enter the
battle zone were troops Of a machine
gun battalion. They rode on trucks
during all Of Friday night and arr1v-
ed at their new position on SATURDAY
morning. These were the troops
which repulsed the enemy forces
which attempted to cross the .Marne
river.
The machine gunners were sta
toned within a certain town and be-
gan operations by poking the muS-
zles of their weapons through broken
walls. bushes and holes knocked in
the side Of the house. The guns
were skillfulIy hidden and the Ger
mans were unable to locate them.
The Germans shelled the town heaV-
lily and the Americans took positions
accordingly. Later on, the enemy
advanced, only to be fired upon by
the allied artillery. The correspond
ent today went over the battle area
and interviewed many Of the Amer
lean and French soldiers. They are
In excellent spirits, and say the line
will hold. although the worst is prob
ably vet to come. as the Germans
have not been able to bring up much
heavy artillery. Until then, prooaD4y
the outcome cannot be determined:
The battle is raging over a hiIly
country, where crops are ns groMlns
and there are no prepared trencnes.
When the Americans entered the line
the fighting was shifting back and.
forth like a seething maelstron. The
Americans each dug in and they
went at it like experienced hands.
one of the American officers said:
"The Germans are now learning
that the Americans are as resource
full as any. Germans do not IKE the
Americans because they can olg IN
with one hand fight with the other'
and smile at the same time.
In villages along the Marne the
Americans are aiding the French In
guarding homes Of the civilians who
were driven out by the enemy shell
ing by day and bombing by night.
On LuneVilIe Sector
In an encounter between an Amer
tcan patrol and q party OF II Ger
mans on the Luneville front, early
today. three Of the Germans are re-
ported to have been killed. Another
patrol destroyed an enemy concrete
observation post.
German guns and airplanes were
most active on the Luneville sector
today. The artillery showered the
areas behind the American lines with
explosive shrapnel and gas shells TO
degree unknown FOR many weeks.
Four German airplanes crossed to
some distance behind the American
lines. They were attacked by Amer
lean aviators. but succeeded in es-
Gaping. There We're numerous air
combats.
Washington, June 5.-General
Pershing reported today the contact
between American and German pa
trolls in which three Germans were
killed.
News OF the engagement came first
In press dispatches. The conmuntque
reads: Number 81. section B-Qn |
the night OF June 3 TO June one OF |
our patrols operating in Lorraine de-
stroyed the concrete observation |
posts in the enemy's line. During
the same night and I'm the same dis /
trict an encounter took place be-
tween American and German patrols.
Three Germans are reported to have
been killed"