The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-08-03
Americans Plunge
Through the 0urcq


with the Americans on the onrcq.
Aug. 2.--Anbcrican troops, lighting
their way nortfward, continue ford
ing and swimming the Ourcq 1T rs
the only way To cross the stream just
at present since every bridge is under
continuous German shell fire and con-
stantIy attacked by swarms of Ger
man planes.
we yet across all right" said a
young lieutenant from Dies Noincs.
Don't worry about food or ammuni-
ton We have captured enough from
the Germans in the way of rations,
machine gums and cartridge heitS -
Lccp us going for quite a while.
In spite of determined efforts on
i I've mart of the enemy to prevent tnc
development of our success north OF
tive Ourcu. the French and Americans
are maintaining their rate OF prog
reAs Ferc EN- 1ardenois Is now their
pivot
To the east of Seriuges-et- NealeS,
the Americans have reached the
southern edge of the forest of Nesicss.
which is hristling with German field
and machine guns.
Northeast of ~ergy they have taken
IA foothoId on hills 2n2 and go. which
dominate the Neaie plateau,
The prussian foofguards fought
hard bur dirty" said a sergeant from
Grand Rapids. Their machine gun
ners wore red cross brassards and
carried strctchers through the wheat
ficlds. When they reached shell
hole they would pull out light ma
ehinc guns from the stretchcrs and
open fire on Ms Then, when we
broke through and got TO close quar-
,crs with them they wanted To throw
uu their hands and pun the kane
rad stun.
4 captain from Fond du Lac, Wis.
led a platoon straight into the teeth
of the splitting machine guns, killing
or capturing the crews The platoon
took a battery of field guns ana
scores of heavy machine guns.
A Prussian guardsman who de-
serted INTO the American lines north
of Sorgy this morning was peppercd
with machine gun bullets by his lieu
tenant. but the Americans dragged
the deaerter into shell hole and
later sent him to hospital There
he asserted that his battalion had
been rushed to Laon by train. then
to Fisrnes in motor trucks, In order
TO take the offensive against the
Americans" He didn't learn until
his arrival thai 1t was a defensive az
ton in which he was tn take part
Il
cd at Arras. Though sick. he had
been sent to the Russian front and
then for two years he was furiough
examiner at a Berlin railway station,
until last June he was sent to the
west front.
Our whole army Is learning that
the Americans can fight even thouCn
they arc inexperienced" said the
prisoner. Everybody Is tired OF the
war"
lie said French. British and Amer
lean prisoners were being forced 10
rcorgsnize and reconstruct the OH
French trenches between the present
line and the Aisne.
An American general visited big
hospital this afternoon, As he en-
tered the wari ol the seriously
wounded, nearly all OF the occupants.
including two dying French soldiers.
sauirmed into a sitting position on
their cots and saiutcd.
A dangerously wounded American
was taken out of an ambulance. He
demanded his rifle. The stretcher
hearers thought him dciirious and Of
fered him another weapon. He re-
fused TO take IL. insisting on his own.
Finally his rifle was discovered on
the ambulance floor. He grasped II
eagerly, then tucked II beside him In
the strctchcr.
II had fave newly carved notches
and eight old ones.
Hes the hest SHIPPER of thc COM
pany." said the platoon comma rder,
who, also wounded. lay on cot near
BY and watched the sccno