The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-08-01

to-andefro fighting thru villages had
learned subtlety and were determined
to have a real fight to finish. They
consequently withdrew as if retiring
from Seringes and the Germans crept
down from the high ground convinced
they had their opponents beaten. Ad-
ditional German troops came pouring
in until the town was occupied as 1t
never had been before.
But as the new occupants began to
organize their defepses, they found
that bullets appeared to be coming in
from three sides of the village and it
was not long before they discovered
that the Americans while Withdrawing
from the front of the town had COM
menced an encircling movement on
both sides, thus forming a ring almost
completely around it
Guard Would Not Surrender.
Then came tragic fighting. The
Prussian guard had voted not to sur
render and their opponents were just
as anxious to see the thing thru. 1t
was an affair of small arms. but the
American proved to be better shots
and slowly picked off men here and
there.
sThen the American began to ad-
vance and slowly their encircling ring
closed about it. As the ring drew
closer and the defenders saw their
doom approaching, they redoubled
their fire but still the Americans came
on unfalteringly.
when the Americans reached the
precincts of the village, their fire
ceased and with one wild yell they
closed with the foe. The fierce up
roar suddenly gave place to strange
silence as man grappled with man.
Only the clash of steel on steel and
the groans of the stricken could be
heard.
Issue Never in Doubt.
an instant At this kind of fighting
the American is more than equal to
any Prussian >guardsman and in a lit
tie more than ten minutes all was
over. Except for a few German pris-
oners every German in the village had
breathed his last. Such was the final
capture of Seringes.
During the night the enemy twice
attempted to retake Sergy but each
time he was repulsed with heavy
losses. Then he made a fierce assault
on Meurcy farm, east of Seringes.
which was piled with the dead which
he had len there the day before,
when every man defending it died at
his post. There again the enemy was
unsuccessful. tho not until steel had
crossed steel in the big farmyard and
the heaps Of German slain had been
doubled in the ruins about it.
Case of Man Against Man.
This was classic fighting indeed
man against man, and the better to
win. There was no call for quarter.
The pride of the professional soldier
was up against the pride of the free
man, both preferring death to sur
render.
Later in the morning the fighting
extended still further eastward and
in every case the Germans who at
tackled were annihilated. Later came
the attack on Seringes and an attempt
at the same time to drive the allies
from hill 1877, west of Seringes.
There for the first time. since the
allies crossed the Ourcq. the Germans
may be said to have taken the often
sive. All thru the days fighting the
enemy's airplanes attempted in the
most daring manner to assist in the
battle Early in the morning six
enemy planes succeeded in penetrating
as far as the La Croix Blanche farm.
near La Fere forest They swooped
down close above the roads in the val
ley and fired upon allied troops.
Ordered to Hold Line at All Costs
Members Of the Prussian guard
who were taken prisoners. said that
| their orders were to hold the line al
! all costs and well they obeyed. AL
| three of their battalions were appar-