The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-01
AMERICANS TRICK
ENEMY AT SERVICES
They Pretend to Withdraw
and Then Close In.
By the Associated Press.

WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
FRANCE. July a1.-Enorts made by the
Germans to advance their lines against
the Americans on this fron. last night
and this forenoon were fruitless. The
Americans. for their part. we've content
to hold their positions along their
slightly advanced line for the time. The
German line. however. is reported
gradually giving way both to the right
and left.
There was hard fighting throughout
the night, but no concentrated attack
In. force by either side.
Gen. Degoutte, commanding the army
on the Aisne-Marne front. expressed to
the correspondents to-day his satisfsc-
ton at the progress already made and
the hope that the advance would con-
tinue until the Germans were forced
beyond their new positions.
It had been a keen satisfaction TO
him. he said. to have American CO.
operation in the battle and he was
frank in his praise OF the manner in
which the Americans were carrying out
their cart. Some OF the officers now
in the line he had met at the time OF
tho Boxer rising in China. when he was
= Captain.
RuSe Worked at SertnYes.
The American forces now occupy the
1hflls beyond Seringes and Sergy. One,
of the fercest encounters In the present
offensive was brought about by the
Americans. who occupied Seringes. Dur
ing the night the Americans pretended
to withdraw from the village. Some OF
them did withdraw. but others remained
IN the houses and other points of val
ha ,fn
the place, and the Americans OPP ned
fire. Two enemy companies were vir-
tually annhilated.
The Americans used machine guns,
rifles and pistols. and employed both the
bayonet and the rifle butt with great eff
fecfiveness. The fighting in the streets
was savage. but of comparatively brief
duration. Then the Americans awaited
the coming of other Germans. but they
came not. So French and Americans To-
gether moved beyond the village.
When the Germans learned that The
Americans In Seringes were wipring
they used their artillery and theve is
unquestionable evidence that numerous
Germans were killed by German hells.
Some prisoners taken said thu the
orders were that the Germans nv st hold
on at all costs. Among the isoners
were men attached to the FIJI h Foot
Guards from Lorraine and OILERS who
had been on leave in Germany. who said
that the German people were thoroughly
tired of the war and did not care who
governed so long as the war came to an
end.
Using Gas with High Explosives.
The Germans are now using high ex-
plosive shells simultang ously with gas
shells. The high explosives are designed
to drown the pop" OF the gas protec-
tiles. which the Allie/i have learned to
distinguish from the others. The per-
centage OF gas casualties is low as a re-
suit Of the discovery OF the German
trick, because the Allies generally an
ticipate attacks with gas.
The air rorcef on both sides were
busy this morning. One Of the Amerl-
can observers was attacked by eight
enemy machinSs. but escaped and re-
turned to his base. American aviators
undertook reconnaissance missions
chiefly, but the pursuit machines also
we're up Two American fiiers attacked
two Germsn scouts over Montsec, in the
Woevre, and drove one enemy plane
down.
The Germans sent over a heavy bar
rage W the Woevre this morning. 1t
lasted more than half an hour. and II is
probable that they sent infantry across
behind the barrage. But their fire was
entirely wasted, as the positions had
been evacuated. The destruction of a
German balloon on July 20 has been
verified. and another was brought down
yesterday.