, 1918-07-25


tanned a powerful assault on vaux,
west of Chateau Thierry, and though
forced out of that village momentarily,
they regained possession of it by a
brilliant counter-attack. Then, far
Their to the east, at the J%aulgonne
bend of the Marine, they were called
on to check a tremendous rush of
Huns across the river. Their advanced
line fell back, the guns all the time
Strengthening the Germans who were
trying to get over with pontoons and
canvas boats. Then the main line
of defense came into action, changed
Itself into a line of o~ffense, and swept
the enemy back across or into the
river, killing great numbers and cap
turing about 1900, including a COM
plete brigade staff. The fighting in
that sector continued with great in
tensity, but the Americans command
ed the river front at the bend.
Ia
On Tuesday the Americans, in CO.
operation with the French, launched
heavy attacks between st. Agnan and
La Chapelle-Monthodon, southeast of
Jaulgonne, where the Germans had
succeeded in getting considerable
forces across the river. The enemy
was driven back steadily and both
these villages, as well as others, were
recaptured. From Dormans, north
ward toward Reims, in a sector held
by Franco-Italian forces, tn Huns at
first advanced two or three miles,
but occupied no positions of impor-
lance and were unable to d%isorganize
in the least the defensive line of the
allies. By Wednesday the Germans
were making their greatest efforts
in this sector, trying to force
their way toward Epernay. But
by this time the French were
manifestly holding the upper hand.
and they counter-attacked eagerly
and spiritedly, retaking every piece of
ground which the Germans occupied
by their desperate efforts. Nearly ev-
cry attempt of the enemy to advance
was repulsed almost before 1t started.
ID
The swiftest and most complete
check sustained by the Germans was
east of Reims, between Pompelle fort
and Main de Massiges. Expecting an
easy victory there, they met with a
crushing defeat at the hands of the
French troops under General Gouraud.
This gallant commander, who lost an
arm at the Dardanelles, had disposed
his men with the utmost cleverness.
When the German b~ombardment be-
gan, one of the most terrific ever
known, the French, except for machine
gun crews in blockhouses, retired to
shelter. Then the observers announ-
ced hat The advance was starting. and
instantly the enemy was swept by q
devastating fire from canno machine
guns and rifles. The b~lockhouses re-
tarded the Huns, large numbers OF
whom were killed, and the charging
troops never entered the French lima
of resistance, coming to a standstill at
the wire entanglements, which wert
loaded with dead bodies.
The Huns engaged in this attack
were fifteen elite divisions, with ten
divisions supporting. Less than one
third as many Frenchmen defeated
them, and the French casualties were
astonishingly few. The attacking Ger
man divisions had to be relieved, but
the French staid in their positions,
happy and cheerful and more conf
lent than ever.
The morale of all the allied troops,
indeed, was Of the highest, in strong
contrast to that of the enemy as re-
vealed by the words and actions of
prisoners. The spirit of the Americans
engaged was shown wildly by two In
cldents worth recording. On the first
day, when a certain force of Yankees
had been compelled to give ground,
their commander was advised by a !
French general to let his men rest, as
the retirement could have no serious
consequences. The American respond
ed that he could not accept the
sci and was going to counter-attack
at once. This he did, regaining the
lost terrain n half a mile more to
boot. Another commander. In report
ing the recapture of a number of
towns, wired to headquarters: Met
Boche on his line of defense. Sharp
fighting. Boche turned tail and ran
like hi, pursued by our troops. Hope
to have more prisoners" There were
numerous instances of valor and nerve
In the desperate fighting in which the
Americans took part. These are the
troops which the German papers as
sert are labby. without enthusiasm
and unfit for serious operations.
The French soldiers displayed their |