Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-07-30
BIG COUNTER
MADE BY FOE
AT YANKEES
Pershing Reports Attacks
Against Americans by
Fresh Hun Troops.

Washington. July 3O-Seyere
lighting resulting from heavy
counter attacks by fresh enemy
troops beyond the line OF the
Ourcq was reported in GeReraI
Pershing'S cOmmunique for
yesterday, received today at the
war department..
London, July 3O.-By the
Associated Press. THE Ger
mans have been counter attack
ing very heavily along virtual
ly the entire battlefront, ac-
cOrding TO news that reached
London shortly after noon to-
day. Their attack was an eSpe-
cially heavy one in the Amer
lean sector and resulted in
driving the Americans out of
the village of Cierges. about
51a miles southeast of Fere-En-
TardenOis.
Another German thrust drove the
French out of Beugneux, near Grand
Rozoy, northwest of Fere- En- Tar
denois. This town, however, was
recaptured from the enemy.
Yanks Fight Without Rest.
American troops in the scissors
Reims sector have been fighting
virtually without cessation along
their whole line for the last "a
hours. The German defense had
stifened and the Americans had
made very little fresh progress up
to noon today, according to dis
patches this afternoon.
With the American Army on the
Aisne-Marne Front, July 30, P. NJ.
tBy the Associated Press) Under
a fire from the enemy only slightly
less than that of yesterday, the
Americans on the front north of the
Curcq held their positions this fore
noon and even advanced a little
toward the road from Seringes to
Sergy.
Enemy Assaults Futile.
Repeated efforts by the enemy to
dislodge the Americans were futile.
On the Americans left the
French are moving forward. To
the right the lines are holding
steadily.
The guards that were brought in
by the Germans to attack the Amer
leans yesterday appeared today 10
have been withdrawn by the Ger
man command.
The fighting is the heaviest the
Americans have experienced. Their
conduct is winning the praise OF
the French observers.
Crossing 0urcq Difficult.
With the American Army on the
Aisne Marne Front, Monday, July
29.-(By The Associated Press -
The crossing of the Ourcq river
was effected by the Americans on
Sunday IN the face Of great diff
cuIties. the Germans having de
stroyed the bridges and placed
their artillery and machine guns
in advantageous positions to resist
the attempts at a passage.
The Franco-American forces had
planned to cross the Ourcq before
daylight on Sunday, but the Ger
man heavy artillery held the
slopes leading to the river under
fire. which continual all night. The
Americans repeatedly started to
advance during the night, but as
often were held back by the fire
of the enemy machine guns and
heavier pieces.
Dig in and Hold Ground.
During one of the luIls in the
German firing. Captain Allen
Hupp. of Corning, Iowa, worked
his men up to the center of a field,
the slopes of which led to the
Ourcq Immediately Hupp and
his men dug in and held on where
they were until daylight.
Meanwhile the German artillery
had been quieted somewhat by the
heavier artillery of the allies car
rying out counter battery work,
Choosing an opportune time,
Hupp's men dashed to the river,
jumped in with a splash and wad
ed across. cheering as they wenc.
Huns Raise White Flag.
Corporal Chris Berthelsen, of
Sioux City, was among those of
the first wave to cross the river.
They Immediately went after the
machine guns on a hill on the
north bank of the Ourcq. The fire
which they opened on the enemy
nest at this point was so intense
that the Germans raised a white
flag.
Anticipating a nice bag of pris-
oners, the Americans flushed up,
only to be opened upon again by
the enemy machine guns as they
approached. Then the Americans
let loose with the full weight of
their fire against the Germans.
who again raised the white flag
Twelve Germans were killed and
nine captured in this operation.