Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-07-16
Falling Back Steadily Until
Prepared Crushing COun-
ter Attack Was De-
EVered
By S. Ferguson.

With The Americans On The Marne,
July 16,-(S a. m.)-Thrown back ac.
ross the Marne by the brilliant Ameri-
can counter-attaek, the Germans had
not renewed their infantry assaults up
to the hour of cabling today.
The sky was overcast and it was rain
ing intermittently. The artillery duel
which continued all night, was still rag
ing. There was considerable aerial ac-
tivity despite unfavorable weather and
great quantities of bombs were dropped
on the rear areas of both armies.
The American counter attack which
cleared the river bend of the enemy,
resulted in the taking of between 1000
and 1900 prisoners, including a complete
brigade staff.
Failure of the enemy to renew his at
taeks may be significant as infantry ac-
tions usually start before six clock.
| The Americans even brought trench
mortars into play. The range at times
was so short that the heavy projectiles
often cut through score of men before
exploding. One Of our mortar gun out
fits, operating in gas masks for six
hours, wiped out five German battal-
ions probably $50 men.)
| Some of the rushes carried into the
American lines, and bayonets, dubbed
rifles and fists were substituted for bull
let's. But these temporary successes on
ly resulted in the Americans taking a
few prisoners. The prisoners were COM
paratively few, too, as a boche, in the
heat Of the melee had to shout kamer-
ad" mighty quick to beat bayonet
thrust.
The boehes sent over an escadrille Of
36 airplanes to attack the Americans
with a machine gunfire while flying
low. Our doughboys turned their auto
matics rifles skyward and actually shot
down one of the enemy machines. The
others were So badly strafed that they
fled.
The fighting was almost continuous
throughout the day, but toward evening
the Germans-thoroughly whipped for
the time being called off their infantry
and settled down to an artillery duel
that was battle of some magnitude in
itself.
The German attack on the Marne be-
gan yesterday at a. m. Initial at
tempts of the enemy to bridge the river
were frustrated by American artillery
and machine gun fire.
AS the boche fire was concentrated
on American positions in the bend of
the river our men gradually fell back in
perfect order and the Germans succeed
ed in throwing six pontoons across.
Following the cleverest dictates Of
starategy, the American retirement con-
tinued until our men reached the base
Of the salient created by the bend of
the river. There they halted at 10
o clock and resisted all efforts of the
boches to dislodge them.
| Coolly,, despite the harrassing fire, the
Officers began preparing for counter
attack. Shortly after noon it began.
Slowly and methodieally, as though exc
cutting some training maneuver, the Am
orleans pressed forward. Their advance
was irresistible. They drove the Ger
mans back more than two kilometers "a
mile and a quarter) before there was
any slackening of the attack. When it
did halt, it was voluntary.
The counter attack was resumed after
q brief pause. This time the American
assault was conducted with an almost
unbelievable ferocity. The boches were
caught up in the cyclonic rush and
great numbers of them were hurled bod.
lily into the river.
|. Cooperation of the American artil.
Ilerymen and machine gunners was per,
feet. The gunners, firing from far in
the rear, dropped shells on the enemy Is
pontoons with the greatest accuracy
When the boches reached the river bank
they were compelled to plunge in and
many Of them were drowned. Others
were caught in the rain of shells and
machine gun bullets and the stream was
soon thickly dotted with shattered
bodies.
In some places the Germans clung
doggedly to the south bank. American
officers sent back word last night, how
ever, that they expected to drive these
boches back across before morning. 1t
is reported, but not confirmed, that this
was accomplished.
i The battle was one of the most re-
markable of the war. For ten hours the
intense shelling by guns of all cali
bres continued. Everything within for
ty kilometers Us miles) of the front
was shelled, while the front lines and
Organizations Immediately in the rear
were subjected to the fiereest deluge
of gas shells and high explosives.
| When the Germans attacked a creep
ing barrage five kilOmeteTs (more than
three miles) deep swept over the Ameri-
can and French lines Behind this cur
tain of fire the boehes crossed the river
In addition to throwing over pom.
|, toons, canvas boats and RATS, each
holding score of men, were sent out